EU Tightens Scrutiny on Foreign Investments in Strategic Sectors

The European Union (EU) is preparing to impose stricter controls on foreign investments in strategic sectors. The increasing influence of countries such as China and the supply dependency risks triggered by global crises have been decisive in this move. Under the new regulation, foreign investments in critical areas such as defense, energy, and technology will be subject to mandatory review. The proposal prepared by the European Commission aims to enable member states to more effectively assess foreign investments in sectors sensitive to national security and public order. Within this framework, investors will be required to notify and obtain approval for their projects in advance. The regulation specifically targets preventing state-backed foreign companies from acquiring strategic assets in Europe. The new rules are seen as part of the EU's efforts to preserve technological independence and secure critical infrastructure. Investments in renewable energy sources, partnerships in the defense industry, and collaborations in advanced technology fields such as artificial intelligence will be evaluated under this scope. With this step, the EU plans to both protect the integrity of the internal market and reduce external dependency in strategic sectors. The regulation requires approval from the European Parliament and member states to take effect. Experts predict that this process could be completed by the end of 2026. It is noted that the new screening mechanism may create an additional bureaucratic burden for foreign companies planning to invest in the EU, but will protect Europe's strategic interests in the long term. This is not investment advice.