The European People's Party (EPP), the largest political group in the European Parliament, is preparing a position paper on EU policy towards China. This document comes at a time when EU-China relations face growing tensions, particularly in the trade domain.
The text under preparation advocates for a firmer use of trade pressure as an instrument for dealing with China. However, the document does not propose a break or direct confrontation with Beijing, instead opting for an approach that combines firmness with pragmatism.
The EPP's position maintains that the EU should maintain dialogue with China while applying trade pressure when necessary. The goal is to avoid an escalation of tensions, seeking a balance between defending European interests and maintaining functional diplomatic relations.
This approach reflects the attempt by Europe's largest political group to define a coherent strategy in the face of one of the EU's major foreign policy challenges, seeking to address the concerns of various member states about economic dependence on China.
