The European Union member states reported 477 cases of suspicious foreign direct investments last year, according to the European Commission's annual report presented today, BTA reports.
In 92% of cases, inspections were completed within two weeks, while in the remaining 8% a more in-depth assessment was carried out. About 4% of the investigations were related to concerns about potential “technology leakage”. The Commission has issued a formal opinion in less than 2% of all cases.
By the end of last year, 24 EU countries had already introduced national legislation to control foreign direct investment.
According to the report, the number of inspections carried out has increased by 15% compared to 2021. Last year, the European Commission proposed changes that would make it mandatory for all member states to maintain national mechanisms for monitoring such investments.
The document also notes that Bulgaria last year adopted a mechanism for assessing foreign direct investment worth more than 2 million euros, as well as for acquiring more than 10% of capital in sensitive sectors from high-risk countries outside the EU. However, the mechanism is not yet fully implemented, as additional provisions are pending approval.