China’s financing of non-maritime transport infrastructure projects allows it to exert significant economic and geopolitical influence on the EU, according to a study published by the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism on Wednesday 13 December.
This funding is provided in particular through China’s “Belt and Road” initiative or by providing services along transport lines without investing in the core network of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). According to the study, the risks associated with China’s investments are still insufficiently understood. This is particularly true of economic coercion and the risks associated with cybersecurity and data.
EU Member States are advised to formally recognise the infrastructure along the TEN-T core network as critical and to carry out studies to assess the presence of Chinese companies in the TEN-T core network within their borders and the risks arising from this presence.
If Chinese investment in the EU’s neighbouring countries continues to grow and China takes greater control of infrastructure in these countries, the EU’s position and influence in the region could be threatened. The EU could better protect its interests if it funded more investment in transport infrastructure in the region, particularly in candidate and potential candidate countries.
To read the study: https://aeur.eu/f/a5s (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)