It is our pleasure to invite you to our online discussion and cordially request your active participation.

This event continues our online event series EU Strategic Toolbox Talks. In our Toolbox Talks, we are focusing on existing and upcoming EU instruments aimed at managing critical dependencies and strengthening the EU’s sovereignty and external economic governance.

These instruments form an important basis for fostering the EU’s capability to act in a global environment increasingly shaped by geopolitical tensions and systemic rivalries.

Please be aware that this session will be held under Chatham House Rule

EU Strategic Toolbox Talk (online):

The rise of outbound investment screening: Towards a new tool of economic security?

Wednesday, March 20th, 5:00 – 6:00 pm CET/ 12:00 – 1:00 pm EDT

An online discussion with:

David Wertime, Senior Policy Advisor, U.S. Department of the Treasury

Peter Sandler, Director, DG Trade – Directorate Trade and Security,

European Commission

Sofia Bournou, Senior Adviser, BusinessEurope

Cora Jungbluth, Senior Expert China and Asia Pacific, Bertelsmann Stiftung

Moderator:

Mark Fischer, Senior Project Manager, Bertelsmann Stiftung

Outbound investment screening has emerged as a new and much discussed tool of national and economic security among G7 members. The United States issued an executive order on outbound screening in August 2023 with the explicit goal to develop a legislative proposal for outbound investment screening.

The European Union published an informal, non-binding “White Paper on Outbound Investments” in January 2024. With this White Paper, the Commission pursues the goal of making a thorough risk assessment on outbound investment and related security issues through a public consultation process. The decision on whether such an instrument is needed will probably be made only after the process will be completed in autumn 2025.

The introduction of outbound investment screening is a contested issue, especially in market economies. On the one hand, it implies strong state interference in corporate decision-making. On the other hand, the transfer of technology with a strong dual-use character to third countries is not completely covered by export controls. Therefore, a new tool might be needed to address technology transfer through outbound investments.

We would like to address the following questions in our upcoming toolbox talk on outbound investment screening:

  • Why is outbound investment screening necessary?
  • What problem will it solve that other instruments cannot?
  • What is the state of legislation on outbound investment screening in the US, EU and other G7 members?
  • What are the different positions on the issue of outbound investment screening among EU Member States? Are the differences pronounced enough to prohibit a compromise at EU level?
  • How is coordination in this regard evolving among the US and EU as well as among G7 members?
  • What is the business perspective on this new instrument? What are the risks and opportunities?

To attend the event please follow this link for your registration at ZOOM. If you would like to receive more information about the work of the Bertelsmann Stiftung and its events, please register here.

We are looking forward to your participation!

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