The Spanish government adopts a new Royal Decree-Law which amends the FDI screening system approved at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis.

On 17 March, Royal Decree-Law 8/2020 suspended the liberalisation of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Spain in certain sectors (please see for more details Client Alert New System for Screening Foreign Direct Investments in Certain Sectors in Spain on this Royal Decree-Law). This measure required FDI in certain sectors or made by certain foreign investors to obtain prior authorisation. Any FDI made without obtaining authorisation will be invalid and with no legal effect, and the infringing person may be fined.