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.
Investment screening
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 …
Update: Friday’s trade ministers’ meeting, EU-US, Mercosur, investment screening
The Brussels trade bubble is focusing on what will happen at the ‘FAC Trade’ on Friday. The biannual trade ministers’ meeting is above all a stocktaking and brainstorming exercise. The culminating point will be the traditional lunch, where the conversation will focus on EU-US trade relations. Apart from transatlantic relations, …
Commentary: Italy’s new government risks undermining EU unity on trade and investment
Italy’s new coalition government is pushing a protectionist agenda that puts national sovereignty at the centre and may well set the country on a collision course with Brussels, Berlin and Paris, argues Nicola Casarini. The new government in Rome is promoting ‘Italy First’, a set of policies that may undermine …
A Week in Brussels: Trump tariff update, investment screening, Mercosur
It’s been one of those weeks again. On trade: a round of talks with Indonesia, discussions on Mercosur, packed meetings in the European Parliament, Brexit and transatlantic issues all over. The EU Japan EPA’s signature ceremony was postponed to next Tuesday in Tokyo. Below other highlights. Juncker meeting with Donald …