If I could change one thing about business culture in Europe, it would be this. You just start doing something and the paperwork, permits, accounting and so on can all come later. It's a wonderful feeling.
My impression is that you can't get started in the EU without at least a little up-front paperwork.
In NL it is like that. You can start a business personally and later convert it into a legal vehicle of your chosing, or not at all. When you want to claim back VAT there are some hoops to jump through, but a 'single proprietor company' without shares does not need an act of incorporation to be active.
You rarely need permits (if you sell food or medication or something like that you do), you will need to do your filings but you can usually get them deferred for the first year.
In the UK its actually easier to start a business than it is in the US, and the associated costs are significantly less.
*(as someone who has started companies in both the UK and US)
My impression is that you can't get started in the EU without at least a little up-front paperwork.