The World Bank has published its 2008 report on the ease of doing business throughout the world.
EU member states have performed strongly as attractive places to do business with Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland and Sweden coming within the top 10 countries with the least procedures needed to start a business and Denmark topping the list as the country with the lowest cost per capita for starting a business.  The report investigates the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it.
The document presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 178 economies and over time. Regulations affecting 10 stages of a business’s life are measured: starting a business, dealing with licenses, employing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and closing a business.

For a full copy of the report click on this link:
http://www.doingbusiness.org/documents/FullReport/2008/DB08_Full_Report.pdf