China
EU-China Policy: Avoiding Complacency and Bloc Politics
The 25th EU-China summit saw minimal progress on key issues, highlighting dwindling collaboration. Despite challenges like US-China tensions and divergent values, Europe can still recalibrate relations while prioritizing economic interests and climate cooperation.
Limited Progress at the EU-China Summit
The 25th EU–China summit in Beijing in July 2025 concluded without significant advancements on pivotal issues such as Ukraine, trade, and market access. This stagnation reflects a decline in political will for deeper collaboration. Diverse challenges, including differing governance values, rising US-China tensions, and concerns over China’s actions in Europe, remain obstacles for EU-China relations. Despite these difficulties, Europe has opportunities to recalibrate its relationship with China while safeguarding its economic and security interests.
China’s Market Vulnerability
China’s heavy reliance on external markets is a critical aspect of the relationship. Domestic industries, from electric vehicles to renewable energy components, face intense internal competition and overproduction, driven by subsidies. Without access to international markets, these surplus goods could lead to unsustainable waste and bankruptcies. With the narrowing of foreign markets due to tariffs and restrictions from the US, Japan, India, and others, Europe remains a vital arena for Chinese companies.
The Urgency of Environmental Cooperation
Environmental collaboration has been institutionalized through the High-Level Dialogue on Climate and Environment, allowing both parties to exchange strategies and align on global negotiations. China has sought the EU’s technical expertise for its national emissions trading scheme, now the world’s largest. Despite fostering this cooperation, China’s relationship with Russia poses a significant challenge for Europe, particularly amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, which the EU considers a direct threat to its security framework.
Source : EU–China policy can shun both complacency and bloc politics
