Brussels, 27/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - According to Eurostat, foreign direct investment (FDI) from the EU to third countries increased by 53% from 2006 to 2007, rising from €275 to €420 billion, while FDI from third countries to the EU rose by 89%, from €169 to €319 billion. From 2006 to 2007, EU FDI in the United States rose from €79 to €113 billion, from €30 to €58 billion in Canada, from €24 to €34 billion in Switzerland, from €11 to €17 billion in Russia, from €3 to €11 billion in India, and from €50 to €84 billion in offshore financial centres. In terms of FDI flow into the EU, the United States invested €145 billion in 2007, compared with €74 billion in 2006; investment by offshore financial centres also increased, from €30 billion to €98 billion. Investment rose, too, from Switzerland (from €18 to €29 billion), Japan (from €14 to €18 billion) and India (from €1 to €10 billion), while investment from Canada was unchanged at €9 billion. FDI flows between the EU and China (excluding Hong Kong) remained modest in 2007, with the EU investing €2 billion in China and China investing €1 billion in the Community market. The United Kingdom, with total investments of €121 billion (29% of the total EU FDI) remained the largest investor in third countries, followed by Luxemburg (€78 billion, 19%) and Germany (€52 billion, 12%). With total FDI receipts of €87 billion (27% of the EU total) in 2007, the United Kingdom was the main beneficiary of FDI, ahead of Luxemburg (€50 billion, 16%) and France (€23 billion, 7%). In 2007, the EU was a net investor in third countries, with €101 billion (0.8% GDP) more going out than coming in. The biggest net investor was Germany (€50 billion), and the biggest net beneficiary of FDI was Ireland (€15 billion). Between 2006 and 2007, intra-Community FDI flows rose by 13%, with France the main investor (€125 billion), then Germany (€71 billion) and Italy (€64 billion). The main beneficiaries of FDI from other member states were France (€86 billion), the Netherlands (€67 billion) and the United Kingdom (€ 49 billion). (E.H.)