Less dependence, more leverage, without turning economic pressure into a trade war. Human rights are part of the equation too, as Europe rethinks its relationship with China.

The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on 10 September backed a recommendation calling for a tougher, more resilient EU approach to China, centred on cutting strategic dependencies and forcing reciprocity in trade and investment.

“China is an essential partner for Europe, but we must also be clear-eyed about the systemic rivalry in our relationship,” said Rapporteur Hilde Vautmans (Renew/BEL). “A sustainable partnership requires clear rules: no spying, no dumping, a level economic playing field and respect for human rights and international law.”

Lawmakers adopted the text by 44 votes to nine, with 12 abstentions. It goes to a full plenary vote at an upcoming session before becoming Parliament’s formal recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the High Representative.

Cut the dependencies

Economic security was at the core of the report. It calls for urgent action against the weaponisation of Europe’s overreliance on China, and for a de-risking strategy targeting critical raw materials, medicines, batteries, electric vehicles, information and communication technology, semiconductors and other strategic sectors.

Lawmakers want stronger investment screening and firmer protection of critical technologies, infrastructure and supply chains. The recommendation singles out China’s industrial overcapacity, state subsidies and market-access restrictions on European firms as mounting pressures on the EU economy.

Looking for alternatives

The report, also calls for stronger Global Gateway partnerships to offer a credible alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, particularly in Africa and Latin America.

“With the Xi–Trump meeting (Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, ed.), the European Council and the EU–China Strategic Dialogue ahead, this recommendation could not be timelier. Europe must finally act as one,” Ms Vautmans said.

The Committee recommendation arrived as reports of the European People’s Party (EPP) is drafting its own China paper: one that would put more weight on the economic leverage the bloc already holds, while keeping dialogue open and steering clear of a trade war.

October deadline

Written by EPP members of the International Trade Committee and due to be finalised in mid-October, the text spans trade and investment rebalancing, export controls, intellectual-property protection and WTO reform.

It also presses for tougher customs checks and firmer supervision of online marketplaces, tracking a Commission plan to close the loopholes that carry illicit Chinese goods into the single market.

Both the Commitee report and the EPP draft appear to be moving in the same direction, however with a great emphasis of engagement coming from the EPP. 

Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič has given Beijing until October to show concrete movement on rebalancing before his next visit, with the European Council and the EU–China strategic dialogue to come.