The European Commission published two reports, on Friday 2 September, on the implementation of investment screening in 2021 and export controls in 2020 respectively. In its view, both tools are effective in maintaining a high level of security in the EU.
Regarding export controls, which concern dual-use items that can have both civilian and military use, the Commission blocked 550 exports, out of approximately 40,000 applications for authorisation analysed in 2020, i.e. 1.4% of applications.
The top three destinations for these exports are: the United States, China and Switzerland.
The report does not take into account the amendment of the regulation on the control of exports of dual-use items in 2021 (see EUROPE 12717/4). This one includes more products within the scope of the Regulation, notably those related to cyber surveillance or emerging technologies.
See the report on export controls: https://aeur.eu/f/2wz
With regard to screened investments, the Commission has analysed more than 400 foreign direct investments in 2021 and more than 740 since the creation of the cooperation mechanism in 2019. In 2021, less than 3% of transactions led to a Commission Opinion.
The report shows that the US, the UK and China were the top three countries for which the EU received a notification for investments in the EU.
See the report on investment screening: https://aeur.eu/f/2WY (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)