Respect, Reciprocity, Resilience : Europe must reset its China compass
Renew Europe welcomes the European Parliament’s adoption of its report on EU-China relations, led by Renew Europe MEP Hilde Vautmans, who brought together a solid majority behind a strong text.
Dialogue between Europe and China is more essential than ever, whether on climate change, global health or peace and security. But the EU notes, and regrets, that China has chosen to behave as a systemic rival.
Europe cannot ignore Beijing’s political choices: the continued repression of the ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and Tibet, including through forced labour and mass surveillance and repressive legislation, as well as the destruction of basic freedoms in Hong Kong, and China’s support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its intimidation campaign against democratic Taiwan. Nor can Europe close its eyes to China’s trade practices or the weaponization of critical raw materials and rare earths that European factories depend on. The status quo is no longer tenable.
EP rapporteur Hilde Vautmans (Anders, Belgium) said:
“Today’s majority marks a turning point in Europe’s China policy. We want cooperation with China, but as long as fundamental differences on security, human rights and values persist, China will remain a systemic rival. Together with this week’s Franco-German initiative, this vote shows that Europe is increasingly speaking with one voice. We must seize that momentum. Tomorrow, Commissioner Šefčovič takes a united European message to Beijing: rebalance trade, secure fair market access for European companies and deliver a more balanced economic relationship. Europe has the market, the tools and the power. Now we must have the political will to use them."
Hilde VautmansRenew Europe MEP, Belgium, Anders
Renew Europe’s message fits in three words:
-Respect: human rights are universal, and economic interests can never buy Europe's silence. The EU-China human rights dialogue must be results-oriented. As a major global power, China must also fulfil its international obligations and responsibilities: respect the rules-based international order, support multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations, stop prolonging the war in Ukraine, and refrain from any attempt to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait by force or coercion.
-Reciprocity: European companies must get the same access to the Chinese market that Chinese companies enjoy in Europe. The EU cannot accept unfair competition such as dumping. Backed by excessive state subsidies, China's export-oriented overcapacity puts European producers under unfair pressure. Where China does not play by the rules, Europe must use its full trade toolbox.
-Resilience: Europe relies too heavily on Chinese technologies and resources. It must reduce this dependence for critical goods such as rare earths, batteries, medicines and semiconductors, and screen Chinese investment in ports, energy grids and telecoms.
The door to dialogue remains open but it must now deliver concrete results, as Engin Eroglu (Freie Wähler, Germany), Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with the People’s Republic of China, underlined:
“China’s behavior in recent years has drastically reduced the scope for genuine partnerships and steered relations with the EU toward competition and systemic rivalry. Dialogue and exchange can play an important role, but many in Europe have the impression that China is not willing to engage in genuine dialogue. This disillusionment is now also reflected in this report. Proposals for joint solutions, particularly in the area of trade, are still welcome. But there is a clear time frame for this dialogue.”
Engin ErogluRenew Europe MEP, Germany, Freie Wähler