5 new initiatives to strengthen EU’s economic security

On 24 January 2024, the European Commission presented an updated version of the EU Economic Security Strategy (ESS) , with 5 new initiatives to help facilitate the implementation of the proposed strategy. The European Union aims to expand the European Commission’s strategic set of trade and investment instruments to enable EU to take a better geopolitical and geo-economic lead on the world stage.

The new proposal for an EU Economic Security Strategy consists of 5 main objectives:

• further strengthening the protection of EU security and public order by proposing improved screening of foreign investment into the EU;
• stimulating discussions and action for more European coordination in the area of export controls, in full respect of existing multilateral regimes and Member States’ prerogatives;
• consulting Member States and stakeholders to identify potential risks stemming from outbound investments in a narrow set of technologies;
• promoting further discussions on how to better support research and development involving technologies with dual-use potential;
• proposing that the Council recommends measures aimed at enhancing research security at national and sector level.

Legislative proposal to strengthen foreign investment screening

Foreign investments into the EU benefit the European economy. However, certain foreign investments may present risks to the EU’s security and public order. The Commission has reviewed over 1,200 foreign direct investment (FDI) transactions notified by Member States over the past 3 years under the existing FDI Screening Regulation. Building on this experience and extensive evaluation of the functioning of the current regulation, today’s proposal addresses existing shortcomings and improves the efficiency of the system by:

1. ensuring that all Member States have a screening mechanism in place, with better harmonised national rules;
2. identifying minimum sectoral scope where all Member States must screen foreign investments;
3. extending EU screening to investments by EU investors that are ultimately controlled by individuals or businesses from a non-EU country.

Monitoring and assessment of outbound investment risks

The EU is one of the biggest foreign investors in the world and recognises the importance of open global markets. It also acknowledges the growing concerns regarding outbound investments in a narrow set of advanced technologies that could enhance military and intelligence capacities of actors who may use these capabilities against the EU or to undermine international peace and security.

This is currently neither monitored nor controlled at EU or Member State level. The Commission’s White Paper on Outbound Investments is therefore proposing a step-by-step analysis of outbound investments to understand potential risks linked to them. This analysis will include a three-month stakeholder consultationand a 12-month monitoring and assessment of outbound investments at national level, which will contribute to a joint risk assessment report. Based on the outcome of the risk assessment, the Commission will determine, together with Member States, if and which policy response is warranted.

More effective EU control of dual-use goods exports

Today’s increasingly challenging geopolitical context requires action at EU level to improve the coordination of export controls on items with both civil and defence uses – such as advanced electronics, toxins, nuclear or missile technology – so that they are not used to undermine security and human rights.

Today’s White Paper on Export Controls proposes both short and medium-term actions, in full respect of the existing rules at EU and multilateral level. The Commission proposes to introduce uniform EU controls on those items that were not adopted by the multilateral export control regimes due to the blockage by certain members. This would avoid a patchwork of national approaches.

The White Paper also provides for a senior level forum for political coordination and announces a Commission Recommendation in Summer 2024 for an improved coordination of National Control lists prior to the planned adoption of national controls. The evaluation of the EU Dual-Use Regulation is advanced to 2025.

Options to support research and development in technologies with dual-use potential

With a White Paper on options for enhancing support of research and development (R&D) of technologies with dual-use potential, the Commission launches a public consultation. Announced by President von der Leyen in November 2023, the White Paper contributes to the ‘promote’ dimension of the European Economic Security Strategy, aiming at maintaining a competitive edge in critical and emerging technologies with the potential to be used for both civil and defense purposes.

The White Paper reviews current relevant EU funding programmes in the face of existing and emerging geopolitical challenges and assesses whether this support is adequate for technologies with dual-use potential. It then outlines three options for the way forward: (1) going further based on the current set-up, (2) removing the exclusive focus on civil applications in selected parts of the successor programme to Horizon Europe, and (3) creating a dedicated instrument with a specific focus on R&D with dual-use potential. Public authorities, civil society, industry, and academia can have their say in an open public consultation and inform the Commission’s next steps until 30 April 2024.

Enhance research security across the EU

In today’s complex geopolitical context, the openness and borderless cooperation in the research and innovation sector may be exploited and turned into vulnerabilities. Results of international research and innovation cooperation can be used for military purposes in third countries, or in violation of fundamental values. Higher education and research institutions can fall victim to malign influence by authoritarian states.

Against this background, the Commission presents a proposal for a Council Recommendation to provide more clarity, guidance and support to Member States and the research and innovation sector at large. EU action is required to ensure consistency across Europe and to avoid a patchwork of measures. By joining forces at all levels and across the Union we can mitigate the risks to research security and ensure that international research and innovation cooperation is both open and safe. The overall approach follows the principle ‘as open as possible, as closed as necessary’ as regards international research cooperation.