EU to screen foreign direct investment to protect critical infrastructure
The European Parliament has agreed to set up an EU-level tool which will support member states’ screening foreign direct investment (FDI) on grounds of security and public order. The new regulation protects critical infrastructure such as energy, transport, communications, data, space, finance; and technologies, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and robotics. EU countries will co-operate and exchange information on FDI, and may issue comments on FDI targeting other member states. The European Commission may ask for information and deliver its opinion to the country where the investment is planned. The European Council is expected to formally endorse the agreement on 5 March.
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