Foreign investment screening and export controls play a critical role in safeguarding European security and public order. In 2021, the Commission analysed more than 400 foreign direct investments into the Union to ensure that no such investment threatens EU countries' security or public order. 

This is the result of two reports adopted by the European Commission: the report on the screening of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), and the report on the Export Controls Regulation.

FDI Screening

This is the second annual report on FDI screening, as the EU FDI Screening Regulation entered into full application in October 2020. Since the creation of the cooperation mechanism, the Commission has screened over 740 FDI transactions. The second annual report shows that the use of the mechanism has expanded in 2021.

Export Controls

This is the second report on export controls under the upgraded Export Controls Regulation that entered into force on 9 September 2021, covering the year 2020. The report covers dual-use exports i.e., items that may be used for civilian and military purposes.