The European Council dinner on Thursday 21 March will be devoted to China. In preparation for the EU/China summit scheduled for 9 April in Brussels, the European chancelleries are announcing a bolder European approach.
The leaders' discussion, fuelled by the Commission's strategic reflection published on 12 March (see EUROPE 12212/20), as well as the one held six days later by Foreign Ministers with their Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi (see EUROPE 12216/2), is expected to focus on relations with Beijing in the broad sense.
According to a European diplomat, Europeans are becoming aware that the EU will have to act in relation to China “in a constructive way, while remaining attentive and more active. We should not expect China to meet us halfway, but we must exert pressure in this direction,” he added.
“China is a partner on global issues and in defending multilateralism, but a competitor in the economic arena”, summarized another European source, adding that it was necessary to “rise to the challenge in terms of competitiveness and to protect ourselves from unfair practices”. In addition, Beijing is a rival in terms of foreign investment regulations and in security for telecommunications and digital technology, she said. Thus, according to this source, "this combination makes it possible to define a clear position, reciprocity and non-naivety". On the eve of the European Council, the European chancelleries seem to be on the same page: "It is a major determining issue for the agenda of the coming years, because we need a united, strategic Europe, with instruments”, the same source summarised.
Many aspects of the relationship are expected to be addressed, in terms of competition, industrial policy and trade - China accounted in 2017 for 15.4% of total extra-EU trade in goods, or €605 billion - as well as cybersecurity and the development of 5G mobile networks. EU-China cooperation on multilateralism, including WTO reform, climate change and human rights, is also expected to be discussed.
Finally, the Summit could be an opportunity to review the 16+1 initiative, in which many Member States are participating, as well as the Memoranda of Understanding negotiated between some Member States and Beijing on its 'New Silk Road'. These privileged relations with Beijing raise questions about the risks of disunity between Member States, which the countries involved refute.
China will therefore be the common theme of the European Council. Indeed, on Friday morning, 22 March, the leaders are expected to discuss trade and industrial policy, but also climate policy, “issues that are relevant to the relationship with China”, said a European diplomat (see other news). As a parallel reflection on European industrial policy begins, this new strategy towards China will test the European willingness to finally act together in the face of the Chinese partner.
Commemoration of the 5th anniversary of the annexation of Crimea
In addition, as their Foreign Ministers did on Monday 18 March, the Heads of State and Government are expected to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the illegal annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by Russia. According to a draft conclusion dated 18 March, leaders are expected to reiterate the EU's commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“The EU reaffirms that it does not recognise and continues to condemn this violation of international law, which remains a direct challenge to international security. The EU remains committed to implementing its policy of non-recognition", they are expected to warn, while, on 14 March, the EU Council renewed and reinforced European sanctions linked to actions compromising or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (see EUROPE 12215/5).
Ahead of the EU Council, on Wednesday 20 March, the Presidents of the European Council, Donald Tusk, the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, were scheduled to hold a “mini-summit” in the form of a dinner with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, according to a European source. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with Hermine Donceel and the editorial staff)