Non-Paper No 2/2025: Securing Europe’s Future: Investment Screening and Economic Security in the Context of EU Enlargement
Written by Liam McGrath, Programme Associate at the CELIS Institute and LL.M. Candidate at Leiden University.
The increasing involvement of certain foreign interests in EU candidate countries poses a significant threat to their economic security. Russia has employed a destabilising strategy of leveraging economic assets—particularly in the energy sector—as tools of political influence. Meanwhile, China’s growing investments in strategic infrastructure, including transport, technology, and energy, have sparked concerns over transparency and political leverage. Recent developments—including the elections in Moldova and Georgia, which were marred by allegations of Russian interference—show how foreign influences create obstacles for candidate countries seeking alignment with EU standards, and risk undermining their economic sovereignty and political stability.
These issues formed the backdrop for Panel 2 at CFIS 24, where a cross section of government representatives, business leaders, and leading experts from EU candidate countries discussed challenges related to economic security and the need to introduce Investment Screening Mechanisms. The purpose of this non-paper is to highlight the key issues discussed during the panel and provide recommendations for measures that will ensure the alignment of candidate countries with the EU’s FDI Screening Regulation.
