Sharpening the EU’s China Policy
Sharpening the EU’s China Policy

Author(s): Justyna Szczudlik
Subject(s): Governance, International relations/trade, Geopolitics
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: European Union; People’s Republic of China; EU-China relations; China as systemic rival; policy towards China;
Summary/Abstract: The EU is sharpening its policy towards China, with a new European Commission document describing the country as a systemic rival. Now, the EU is demanding that China introduce changes (such as opening its market), and threatening restrictions if they are not introduced within the prescribed period. This new approach is a means of developing a harder policy towards the PRC and becoming independent of U.S. pressure. At the EU-China summit (9 April), an attempt to take a stricter course resulted in moderate success. EU unanimity and the shape of its institutions after the European Parliamentary elections remain a challenge.

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