The ECJ’s Judgment in Xella – Judicial Cherry Picking?

CELIS Update on Investment Screening – May 2023

By Alexia Crivoi, Vienna University of Economics and Business   Introduction In the much-discussed Xella judgment of July 13 2023, the Court of Justice decided two things: that the scope of the EU FDI Screening Regulation does not extend to ‘indirect FDI’, rejecting arguments relating to the company structure of an EU-based but foreign-owned investor…

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The notion of “security” in foreign trade law – Theory and Practice

CELIS Update on Investment Screening - December 2023

By Dr. Carsten Bormann, Oppenhoff & Partner* 1. Introduction: All about security? The screening of foreign direct investment has gradually evolved from the traditional protection of vital national security interests through the prevention of outsourcing and the drain of specialized technological capabilities to the protection of geostrategic interests and the enforcement of industrial strategies. The…

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FDI Screening Regulation 2.0: Towards Greater Regulatory Convergence?

CELIS Update on Investment Screening - November 2023

By Sophie Bohnert, Vienna University of Economics and Business/College of Europe Background The current Regulation on the Screening of Foreign Direct Investment into the Union (the “FDI Screening Regulation” or the “Regulation”) has sometimes been described as a first step towards a more comprehensive Europeanisation of investment control legislation and possibly even a supranationalisation of…

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CELIS Webinar on the new EU Economic Security Package

The EU Commission's Economic Security Package: Scale Up and Revamp

On February 8, 2024, CELIS will host a lunchtime webinar on the new EU Economic Security Package. Following our last lunchtime webinar on the Xella judgment, this time we will discuss the new EU Economic Security Package with renowned expert. Moderated again by Jonas Fechter and Janosch Wiesenthal, the package will be discussed by Christian…

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The EU Commission’s Economic Security Package: Scale Up and Revamp

The EU Commission's Economic Security Package: Scale Up and Revamp

By Sophie Bohnert, Vienna University of Economics and Business/College of Europe and Kilian Wagner, University of Vienna  Introduction: Long Awaited, Much Longed-For!  Over the past six months, the EC has been gradually releasing bits and pieces of information about possible initiatives to scale up and revamp the EU’s foreign trade and investment policy toolbox, creating…

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Marking a New Investment Era in Sweden: Enter the Swedish FDI Regime

CELIS Update on Investment Screening – May 2022

By Pouya Ghotbi, Wistrand Advokatbyrå    Background In 1916, the Swedish government introduced a piece of legislation restricting the right of foreigners to invest in Sweden. During the 1970s and early 1980s, the legislation was further tightened, making it difficult for foreigners to acquire businesses in Sweden without government scrutiny. The Act was abolished 1991,…

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CELIS Update on Investment Screening – November 2023

Ireland – Introduction of a new FDI screening regime on 31 October 2023 On 31 October 2023, the Screening of Third Country Transactions Act 2023 was signed into law. Since the initial draft was published on 2 August 2022, the Act has undergone a series of amendments during the course of 2023,. Therewith, for the…

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Taking due process seriously – The Administrative Court of Berlin doubles down on FDI procedural rules

About

By Jonas Fechter, University of Münster / CELIS Deputy Assistant Director    I. Introduction Investment screening is infamous for the low number of judicial proceedings that have challenged the legality of the prohibition and mitigation measures imposed by governments. As a result, there is, as yet, no strong body of case law clarifying how investment screening…

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‘A Chain Works Just as Well as its Weakest Link’ – CFIS Keynote and Roundtable on the Review of the EU FDI Screening Regulation

CELIS Events

By Ass.-Prof. Dr. Lena Hornkohl, University of Vienna / CELIS Deputy Director   The annual conference of the CELIS Institute dealt with the pivotal question of Investment Screening and Economic Security and its current challenges. CFIS 2023 was held in Prague from 11 – 13 October 2023 and consisted of a private and a public part.…

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Economic Security in the EU: Key Takeaways from CFIS 2023

Roland Stein @ CELIS.institute

By Dr. Roland Stein, LL.M. Eur., BLOMSTEIN / CELIS Deputy Director   The CELIS Forum on Investment Screening (CFIS) 2023 conference in Prague provided valuable insights into the multifaceted realm of economic security in the European Union (EU). The discussions centered on critical issues such as the screening of foreign inward direct investments, outward investment controls,…

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It’s that time of year again: The European Commission’s Third Annual Report on FDI Screening is out!

Sophie Bohnert

By Sophie Bohnert, Vienna University of Economics and Business/College of Europe   Introduction On 19 October 2023, the European Commission (“EC”) published its Annual Report on the screening of foreign direct investments into the Union (“Report”), covering the year 2022. This Report is accompanied by the usual Staff Working Document. This is the third report…

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CELIS Update on Investment Screening – July 2023

Spain – Spanish FDI Regulation enacted on 4 July 2023 Over the past three years, Spain has significantly strengthened its FDI regime. On 4 July 2023, the Spanish Council of Ministers approved the Royal Decree 571/2023 of 4 July on foreign investments and therewith amended and developed a number of rules that had been introduced…

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CELIS Events

CELIS Events

CELIS Events CFIS 24 Paris CFIS 24 – Investment Screening and Economic Security (16) -17-18 October 2024 | On-site and online | In private and public sessions | Paris (France) The CELIS Forum on Investment Screening (CFIS) is the flagship event of the CELIS Institute, to be held in its 6th edition this year. CFIS…

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