Screening of foreign direct investments into the EU

With a view to gather expert input during the preparatory process for this opinion from a wide range of stakeholders - civil society organisations, think tanks, and EU institutions included - a hearing was organised at the EESC premises on the legislative proposal of the European Commission on the establishment of a framework for screening of foreign direct investments into the European Union. The proposal aims to enable the EU Member States and the Commission to screen foreign direct investment on the grounds of security or public order. Investments will be screened if they are related to critical technologies, critical infrastructure, security of supply of critical products , or if they give access of the investor to control of sensitive information or if the investor is controlled by the Government of another country.  The screening is done by the Member state receiving the investment in cooperation with the Commission and other members states except for investments that  affect projects or programmes of Union interest in the area of research (Horizon 2020), space (Galileo), and transport, energy and telecommunication networks (Trans-European Networks – TEN), which will be screened by the Commission.