On Tuesday 24 February, members of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) approved by a very large majority (34 votes in favour, 2 against and 3 abstentions) the provisional agreement with the EU Council on the regulation on the increased screening of foreign direct investments (FDI) (see EUROPE 13771/20).
The co-legislators concluded negotiations on 11 December on this text, which will require each Member State to screen a series of foreign investments in a list of sectors considered sensitive: dual-use goods and military equipment, semi-conductors, strategic raw materials and certain entities in the financial system (clearing houses, central securities depositories, etc.).
Under the provisional agreement, Member States will still have the final say on whether or not to authorise an investment. A cooperation mechanism will also be set up to support exchanges between Member States on individual cases or to prevent possible circumventions.
The text will potentially be put to the vote at the March plenary session in Strasbourg. The EU Member States will also have to validate the provisional agreement at a ministerial meeting. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)