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DRAFT 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

AFET-PR-775469

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Hilde Vautmans

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A draft report by the Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes a European Parliament recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the EU foreign policy chief on EU-China relations. It says China has become a strategic rival and a decisive enabler of Russia's war against Ukraine, and asks the EU to restrict technology transfers, pursue economic de-risking in strategic sectors and counter cyber threats. It calls for diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, continued defence of human rights in China, Hong Kong and Macau, and a Global Gateway alternative to the Belt and Road Initiative. It rejects replacing the transatlantic relationship with a closer alliance with China and says the EU must strengthen itself from within. It demands that China lift in full the sanctions imposed in March 2021 on individuals and organisations, and asks Parliament to adapt its Rules of Procedure for more comprehensive recommendations and structured cooperation between committees.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament recommend that the Council, the Commission and the foreign policy chief treat China as a strategic rival, pursue economic de-risking in strategic sectors, counter cyber and hybrid threats, defend human rights and stability in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, and reject replacing the transatlantic relationship with closer ties to China.

Key points

  1. The recommendation asks the Council, the Commission and the foreign policy chief to recognise China as more assertive abroad and repressive at home, and to restrict technology transfers to China, especially for dual-use purposes.
  2. It asks them to regard China as a decisive enabler of Russia's war against Ukraine, condemn China's support for that war, and call on China to use its influence on Russia to halt the war and prevent sanctions circumvention.
  3. It asks them to pursue economic de-risking focused on critical raw materials, industrial magnets and semiconductors rather than general decoupling, and to safeguard critical technologies, infrastructure and supply chains.
  4. It asks them to address market access asymmetry and legal uncertainty for European companies in China, and to coordinate with the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India and ASEAN on trade, technology standards and supply chains.
  5. It asks them to develop the Global Gateway as a credible alternative to the Belt and Road Initiative without compromising EU norms on transparency, environmental sustainability, labour rights and economic viability, with Africa as a priority partner.
  6. It asks them to engage diplomatically to prevent escalation in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, oppose unilateral changes to the status quo, work with member states on naval presence and joint exercises, and prepare contingency measures for Taiwan.
  7. It asks them to bolster EU cybersecurity frameworks against Chinese cyber activities and influence operations, including on TikTok, Wechat and Xiaohongshu, and to fortify server defences against politically motivated cyberattacks.
  8. It asks them to keep pressure on China over human rights, express concern about repression of ethnic and religious minorities including forced labour and mass surveillance, strengthen EU human rights actions and sanctions, and press China on Hong Kong and political prisoners.
  9. It rejects a closer strategic alliance with China as an alternative to the transatlantic relationship and says the EU must strengthen itself from within by removing internal market barriers, building strategic autonomy, completing the European defence union and reforming institutions.
  10. It acknowledges China's April 2025 decision to lift restrictions on exchanges with Parliament but says the announcement was ambiguous and not public, notes that think tank staff and national parliamentarians remain under sanctions, and demands that the March 2021 sanctions be lifted in full.
  11. It calls for Parliament's Rules of Procedure to be adapted to allow more comprehensive recommendations or reports and structured cooperation between the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on International Trade.

Who is affected

  • The Council, the Commission and the EU foreign policy chief, who are asked to act on the recommendations.
  • European companies, which face market access barriers and a lack of legal certainty in China.
  • Individuals and organisations under Chinese sanctions since March 2021, whose full lifting is demanded.
  • Parliament itself, which is asked to adapt its Rules of Procedure and strengthen committee cooperation.

Figures and deadlines

  • 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of EU-China diplomatic relations.
  • China lifted restrictions on exchanges with Parliament in April 2025.
  • Sanctions on individuals and organisations were imposed in March 2021.
  • The EU has a trade deficit with China of over €300 billion.
  • China accounted for more than one-fifth of all extra-EU imports but only about 8 percent of exports.
  • The EU's investment stock in China stood at roughly €230 billion.