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REPORT (2025/2117(INI))

On a European Parliament recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy concerning EU-China political relations

A-10-2026-0237

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Hilde Vautmans

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 27 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament recommends that the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President / High Representative pursue a unified, principled EU policy towards China, combining dialogue with firm defence of EU interests and values. It asks them to press China to stop enabling Russia's war against Ukraine, to lift sanctions on European parliamentarians and entities, and to end human rights abuses, including in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong. It calls for economic de-risking in critical raw materials, medicines, batteries, electric vehicles, ICT and semiconductors, stronger FDI screening, and use of the Anti-Coercion Instrument against Chinese coercion. It asks for closer ties with Taiwan, India, Japan, South Korea and Indo-Pacific partners, and for countering Chinese influence in the Western Balkans, Africa, Latin America and the Arctic. It urges measures against Chinese espionage, hybrid threats, disinformation and transnational repression, and asks the Foreign Affairs Council and European Council to give more attention to China.

Committee position. The Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes that Parliament adopt this recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the VP/HR, setting out a unified EU approach to China covering security, trade, human rights and cooperation with partners.

Key points

  1. Recommends that the Council, Commission and VP/HR reinforce multilateralism, keep dialogue with China on climate, peace, human rights and health, and press China to uphold a rules-based order.
  2. Notes 50 years of EU-China relations have reached a critical point because of China's unfair economic practices and its position on Russia's war against Ukraine, and calls for a flexible EU stance.
  3. Condemns China's role as a decisive enabler of Russia's war, urges it to cease assistance, and asks for transatlantic and G7 demands with repercussions and extended restrictive measures on entities aiding Russia.
  4. Calls for urgent action against weaponised critical dependencies, economic de-risking in strategic sectors, safeguards for critical technologies and supply chains, and consideration of the Anti-Coercion Instrument.
  5. Asks for legislation against data collection by Chinese electric vehicles, stronger FDI screening in strategic sectors, and action on China's monopolies in critical chokepoints.
  6. Calls for reciprocity and a level playing field in trade, removal of barriers violating WTO commitments, and EU measures if China fails to open its market.
  7. Asks for coordination with like-minded Indo-Pacific partners, closer EU-India relations, deeper EU-Taiwan trade and technology ties, and an EU Special Envoy for the Korean Peninsula.
  8. Calls for stronger EU engagement in the Western Balkans, Arctic monitoring of Chinese activities, and a Global Gateway offering a trusted alternative to the Belt and Road Initiative.
  9. Asks for action on Chinese leverage in Africa and Latin America, including converting loans into grants, and for due-diligence and anti-corruption safeguards in EU external funding involving China.
  10. Confirms the EU's One China policy, opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, calls for security coordination and naval presence in the region, and asks the UN to grant Taiwanese passport holders access.
  11. Calls for resilience against Chinese hybrid threats, disinformation and espionage, transparency on algorithms, application of EU digital laws, and implementation of the FDI Screening Regulation.
  12. Condemns repression in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong, demands release of named prisoners, ratification of the ICCPR and ILO conventions, an import ban on forced-labour goods, and closure of Chinese overseas police stations.

Who is affected

  • The Council, the Commission and the VP/HR, who are asked to carry out the recommended actions.
  • EU Member States, urged to coordinate their China policy and strengthen FDI screening.
  • European businesses and researchers, affected by market access barriers, sanctions and technology-transfer safeguards.
  • Chinese authorities, asked to end support for Russia, lift sanctions, close overseas police stations and respect human rights.
  • Taiwan, India, Japan, South Korea and Indo-Pacific partners, targeted for closer cooperation.

Figures and deadlines

  • EU and China together represent 22.7 % of the global population.
  • EU and China account for nearly 30 % of global trade and over a third of global GDP.
  • The EU accounts for 14.5 % of China's total exports; China accounts for only 8 % of the EU's exports.
  • The EU's trade deficit with China stood at EUR 305.8 billion in 2024.
  • Chinese critical raw materials account for 98 % of all rare earth elements imported by the EU.
  • China accounts for approximately 60 % of global rare earth extraction and 90 % of refining, and 94 % of global permanent magnet capacity.
  • Since 2024, Chinese authorities have reportedly forcibly repatriated at least 406 refugees to the DPRK.
  • China fell to 178th place in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index.