Foreign direct investment (FDI) screening mechanisms are crucial for safeguarding economic security and resilience in Europe, especially as geopolitical risks increase and the regulatory environment evolves. To stay ahead, Bulgaria must transition to a more strategic, forward-looking framework by strengthening interagency coordination, establishing independent oversight, and implementing security-driven risk assessments. The government should move beyond passive compliance and actively shape its FDI screening to meet evolving threats, enhance institutional capacity, and integrate it into a broader national economic security strategy, including protecting critical supply chains, preserving technological sovereignty, and countering foreign influence in strategic sectors. This policy brief examines gaps in Bulgaria’s current investment screening mechanism and proposes steps for its full operationalization, while enhancing investment and safeguarding European economic security.