The European Commission is preparing a new piece of legislation that aims to boost production of next-generation semiconductors in Europe, a European Chips Act: its trade and investment policy dimension will be a spot to watch.
Investment screening
FDI screening: Commission expands scope of covered EU funded projects
The European Commission is broadening the coverage of its two-year-old investment screening regulation to include new EU-funded technological projects. On the face of it, the expansion is relatively modest. But it marks another step in the EU’s shift to taking care of its ‘strategic autonomy’ both in the security and …
Comment: Strategic foresight report heralds tightened investment, trade policies
The European Commission released a 2021 Strategic Foresight Report. This report is is an important signalling device on where Brussels intends to take the EU in the coming years with the blessing of its most powerful member states. And that path clearly heralds a trend towards more investment and trade …
China investment agreement – breakthroughs on ‘level playing field’
If one is to believe Charles Michel, Angela Merkel and Ursula von der Leyen, today’s online Leaders’ Meeting with China’s president Xi Jinping was productive.
China turns up volume on EU business environment for its companies
A report by the China Chamber of Commerce to the European Union reveals a few key Beijing ‘asks’ in current negotiations as EU China meetings and negotiations are set to intensify this autumn.
Healthcare: Commission encourages member states to take closer look at firm take-overs
The European Commission is encouraging member states to actively protect critical medical and healthcare assets. In ‘guidelines’ released on Wednesday night, the EU executive body is seeking to fast-forward the implementation of a regulation on the screening of foreign direct investments that is only due to come into force in …
Week in Brussels: Ideas market bids for Commission attention
The ritual early September rentrée week in Brussels was all about who will get which jobs in the incoming European Commission. There is a sense that the European Union is at a historically critical juncture. Preoccupations centre on transatlantic relations, China, US-China, Brexit and populism. This is set to have …
New EU investment screening rules – an explainer
The European Parliament voted by an overwhelming majority today in favour of an EU-wide investment screening mechanism. Here the main points of the new piece of legislation.
Flash: Super-majority for new EU investment screening mechanism in European Parliament
The European Parliament overwhelmingly voted in favour of a new ‘screening’ mechanism for foreign direct investments. The new regulation mainly enables information sharing among member states on investments into sectors deemed sensitive through a mechanism coordinated by the European Commission. The aim is to watch investments that could jeopardise security …
The EU’s investment screening regulation compromise – key elements
The three EU institutions have been working at breakneck speed over the last months to make sure that a new EU-wide investment screening mechanism can see light before the European elections next year. The new piece of legislation is shaping up to become, above all, a mechanism for member states …
