Von der Leyen: EU to scrutinize outbound investment to preserve own competitiveness

The EU commission is focusing on a "limited and small set of cutting edge technologies" when it comes to restricting trade with some third countries in order to preserve its own competitiveness, the bloc's commission chief said on Tuesday.

"We have to be more assertive", Ursula von der Leyen said when commenting on how to protect the EU's competitiveness.

Reuters on Monday reported the European Commission plans to propose measures this year to address security risks posed by outbound investments as well as reinforcing export controls on goods that have both civilian and military uses, with an eye on rivals such as China.