The EU reinforces the screening of FDIs
On 14th February, the European Parliament endorsed a political agreement to create the first EU-wide framework for screening of foreign direct investments (FDIs). This new tool is not about harmonising the existing national screening mechanisms or withdrawing Member States’ sovereignity in approving investment operations. It will allow Member States and the European Commission to cooperate and exchange information on investments from third countries that may affect security or public order in the European Union.
In particular, investments from countries like China or Russia into critical assets like infrastructure (transport, energy, digital) or high-level technologies (robotics, artificial intelligence) are on the radar.
The EU’s goal is to find the right balance between attracting FDIs (amounting to €6.3 billion in 2017, far beyond the US with €2.2 billion) and defending its key assets.
The Council is also expected to endorse this political agreement on 5th March.