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ARTICLE · 22 OCTOBER 2025

EU FDI Screening Adapts To Evolving Geopolitical Risks

A&O Shearman
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Overall intervention remains low. But new and strengthened regimes and proposals to bolster the EU FDI cooperation mechanism, plus heightened scrutiny of foreign investments...

European UnionGovernment, Public Sector
Louise Tolley
Louise Tolley
Emily Bourne
Emily Bourne
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The European Commission (EC)'s latest annual report on foreign direct investment (FDI) screening describes an evolving FDI landscape across the EU.

Overall intervention remains low. But new and strengthened regimes and proposals to bolster the EU FDI cooperation mechanism, plus heightened scrutiny of foreign investments involving critical technologies and defense, are creating a more complex enforcement outlook and, for sensitive deals, longer review timelines. For cross-border investors, the practical implications include a higher likelihood of multi-jurisdictional filings, more detailed information requests, notably in technology-adjacent sectors, and an increased need to plan for mitigation commitments early in the deal timeline.

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