The symbolism is hard to miss. While in the UK this week, once again, fate days waiting to Brexit, Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron, and Jean-Claude Juncker is more important to turn to: the relationship with China. This Tuesday a Meeting of the Chancellor, the French President and the EU Commission, heads of the Chinese state President Xi Jinping is scheduled in Paris. This is nothing Less than the question: to Leave it to the Europeans that there are in the future of the world with the USA and China only two decisive Pole?
the silk road, Beijing, extending the influence
If the EU is to join in the conversation as a utility room with (still) 500 million people in the future global, then it is only reasonable, if the Europeans are looking at this Tuesday, the direct conversation with the Chinese head of state. Merkel, Macron and Juncker can be no matter, that Xi is expanding its controversial silk road Initiative, more and more EU member States. The “Belt and Road Initiative”, of Italy, joined last, acts as an extended Arm of the Chinese power politics to the centre of the EU.
Ironically, at a time of deep uncertainty for the Brexit just one of the many symptoms is now Italy as the largest EU country on a dangerous Deal with Beijing admitted: In return for sales opportunities in China the populist government in Rome investments from the middle Kingdom to the Land. The silk roads Initiative allows, in Italy, investments in the ports of Trieste and Genoa.
No critical tones on the human rights policy
However, the past has shown that such appointments often have a political price. Because China invests, for example, in Greece, torpedoed Athens in the past, a common EU foreign policy towards Beijing. Critical tones towards the human rights situation in China were not heard in the government in Athens – a kind of counter performance for the Beijing investment in the port of Piraeus.
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for Free order
but The EU must have, on the contrary, an interest in ensuring that the community may face in the future, compared to the second largest economy in the world eye-to-eye. How this can work is illustrated by a Ten-point Plan to China, which the EU has submitted to the Commission. In the paper, it is clear that the Europeans see China not only as a Partner in free trade, but in the meantime, as economic competitors.
The EU needs China, for example, in the fight against climate change. But at the same time Brussels Chinese Dumping issues-practices in future put a stop, and the unequal treatment in the awarding of public contracts terminate. China is not a developing country anymore, but has long since become a technology giant. Therefore, it is only useful if Merkel, Juncker and Macron during their Meeting with Xi in Paris, increasingly insist on the strategic interests of the EU.
EU should brace for investing for yourself
However, need to ask themselves three Europeans also self-critical, why are countries such as Italy are coming in to view looking for investment to China. That China applies to some States in the community as an attractive Partner, is also an indictment of the EU. It should be a matter for the Europeans, the necessary investments in their own ports, Railways and roads on the legs.
