The European Parliament is moving towards adopting a stricter policy regarding China. In a new report from the Foreign Affairs Committee, China is identified as an economic and geopolitical competitor that threatens Europe's security.
Approval of the Report Ahead of the Trip to China
This report is set to be voted on Wednesday, just before Maroš Šefčovič, the European Union's Trade Commissioner, travels to Beijing on Thursday. He is expected to meet with Wang Wentao, China's Minister of Commerce, for key discussions on escalating trade tensions.
Hilde Vootmans, the author of this report, stated in a discussion: "I want him to go on this trip with a strong mandate. Europe has economic power, and the time has come to use it." This position aligns with the views of Friedrich Merz, the Chancellor of Germany, and Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, in a joint document.
Providing More Powers to the European Commission
In this document, they called for granting more powers to the European Commission to restrict or even ban imports from countries with "serious and systematic distortions" in the European Union. Several Members of the European Parliament supported this position, and Mariusz Kamiński, a Polish representative from the Conservatives and Reformists group, strongly criticized "practical economic relations" with China, deeming it irresponsible and foolish.
Kamiński stated: "China is a communist dictatorship that poses a threat to the free world." This viewpoint has been widely expressed among many Members of the European Parliament, as they do not limit their criticism to China's aggressive exports.
Attention to Human Rights Violations and Other Threats
Representatives also emphasized that the European Commission should pay attention to human rights violations in China, the aggression towards Taiwan, and China's role in Russia's war against Ukraine. Nicolás Pascual de la Parte, a Spanish representative from the European People's Party, said: "We must acknowledge that China behaves in a way that threatens our interests, not only in trade but also in security and defense."
Vootmans regarded this discussion as a sign that the European Union is adopting a unified stance towards China. She said: "This is no longer just the position of the European Parliament or a specific faction. We are increasingly coming to the conclusion that Europe needs a more coherent China policy: open to dialogue and cooperation, but much more determined in defending its interests when necessary."
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