However, they must make their screening policy transparent by notifying the European Commission and the other member states.
This is to ensure that the FDI screenings operate fast, yet do not discriminate between different non-EU countries and do not disclose confidential and commercially sensitive information.
In 2024, the European Commission made plans to oblige its member states to follow a minimum set of FDI screening standards, using minimum harmonisation.
[1] The regulation puts in place a mechanism for member states to exchange information making it easier to screen a foreign investment on grounds of security.
FDI screening is defined as a procedure to "assess, investigate, authorise, condition, prohibit or unwind FDIs".