The ritual early September rentrée week in Brussels was all about who will get which jobs in the incoming European Commission. There is a sense that the European Union is at a historically critical juncture. Preoccupations centre on transatlantic relations, China, US-China, Brexit and populism. This is set to have …
Economic security
Dual use export control plans revived as cyber climbs up EU priority list
The European Commission and the European Parliament Member states will be relieved that blockages in the Council over the new version of the EU’s dual use product export control regime were overcome this week as member states finally released their mandate for ‘trilogue’ negotiations towards a new regulations in the …
New EU investment screening rules – an explainer
The European Parliament voted by an overwhelming majority today in favour of an EU-wide investment screening mechanism. Here the main points of the new piece of legislation.
Flash: Super-majority for new EU investment screening mechanism in European Parliament
The European Parliament overwhelmingly voted in favour of a new ‘screening’ mechanism for foreign direct investments. The new regulation mainly enables information sharing among member states on investments into sectors deemed sensitive through a mechanism coordinated by the European Commission. The aim is to watch investments that could jeopardise security …
The EU’s investment screening regulation compromise – key elements
The three EU institutions have been working at breakneck speed over the last months to make sure that a new EU-wide investment screening mechanism can see light before the European elections next year. The new piece of legislation is shaping up to become, above all, a mechanism for member states …
Week in Brussels: Ministers set January target for US trade negotiation mandate
Today’s ‘FAC Trade’, as the meeting of trade ministers in November is called in the jargon, was intense. Here’s a rundown of the main outcomes of a meeting that was mainly about taking stock of many trade files.
Update: Friday’s trade ministers’ meeting, EU-US, Mercosur, investment screening
The Brussels trade bubble is focusing on what will happen at the ‘FAC Trade’ on Friday. The biannual trade ministers’ meeting is above all a stocktaking and brainstorming exercise. The culminating point will be the traditional lunch, where the conversation will focus on EU-US trade relations. Apart from transatlantic relations, …
Commentary: Italy’s new government risks undermining EU unity on trade and investment
Italy’s new coalition government is pushing a protectionist agenda that puts national sovereignty at the centre and may well set the country on a collision course with Brussels, Berlin and Paris, argues Nicola Casarini. The new government in Rome is promoting ‘Italy First’, a set of policies that may undermine …
A Week in Brussels: Trump tariff update, investment screening, Mercosur
It’s been one of those weeks again. On trade: a round of talks with Indonesia, discussions on Mercosur, packed meetings in the European Parliament, Brexit and transatlantic issues all over. The EU Japan EPA’s signature ceremony was postponed to next Tuesday in Tokyo. Below other highlights. Juncker meeting with Donald …
Member states agree on investment screening legislation in fast-track process
It may become one of the fastest pieces of legislation ever adopted in the European Union. Plans are moving quickly to introduce EU-wide rules for the screening of foreign direct investments. These were introduced in September 2017 in response to calls from France, Germany and Italy to keep an eye …
