On 26^th March, the European Commission issued guidelines to ensure an EU-wide approach to foreign investment screening in a time when industrial and corporate assets may be under stress. 

The aim is to preserve EU companies and critical assets, notably in areas such as health, medical research, biotechnology and infrastructures that are essential for the bloc’s security and public order, without undermining the EU's general openness to foreign investment. The guidelines is a vigilance call upon Member States to use the FDI screening mechanisms in place to the fullest extent or to set up fully fledged screening mechanisms to prevent a sell-off of strategic EU assets to third countries in the current COVID-19 crisis.

Should you have any queries or wish to discuss further, please send an email to covid@kpmg.com.mt.

The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.