China

During Thursday’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, EU officials called for more balanced trade relations. If China fails to deliver, the European Union may reduce its level of openness to Chinese imports, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen indicated. The situation was commented on by EUROPEUM Institute analyst Zuzana Krulichová.

Relations between Brussels and Beijing have often changed dramatically over the years — at times marked by cooperation, at other times by tension, and frequently by concerns over imbalance. Why are relations with China strategically important for Brussels? The situation was commented on by EUROPEUM Institute analyst Zuzana Krulichová.

Trade and the situation in the war in Ukraine will be the main topics of discussion between European Union and Chinese leaders at Thursday’s summit in Beijing. Despite expectations, U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to introduce high tariffs has so far failed to bring the economic interests of the two sides closer together. Experts are sceptical about any further progress in this regard — partly due to the diplomatic slaps delivered to the EU by representatives of the Chinese regime even before the talks began. The situation was commented on for ČT24 by Zuzana Krulichová, analyst at the Institute for European Policy EUROPEUM.

Experts warn that Europe and the United States should try to reduce their dependence on Chinese industry. The situation was commented on by Zuzana Krulichová, an analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute.

In this Policy Brief, Marcin Przychodniak analyzes the European Union’s current approach to China in the context of shifting transatlantic relations and growing tensions between the US, the EU, and China. The paper highlights key challenges – from increasing dependency on Chinese raw materials and investment concerns to the need for stronger EU defensive tools against economic coercion. It offers recommendations on how to more effectively protect European interests and security amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Harsh tariff measures could escalate a trade war with China. Europe should seek a balance between protecting its market and maintaining open trade, said Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of the EUROPEUM Institute, in a statement for the Trend.sk news portal.

Although Europe's attention in recent years has been completely absorbed by Russia's aggression in Ukraine, many countries, including the Czech Republic, are increasingly interested in diversifying their business opportunities beyond the transatlantic space. We therefore asked experts from the fields of diplomacy, research and business about the potential pitfalls of EU-ASEAN cooperation, security challenges and the success of Czech diplomacy in the Far East. Zuzana Krulichová, researcher at EUROPEUM Institute, answered for the Institute of International Relations.

Electric vehicle battery prices are being dragged down by the falling value of key metals such as lithium and cobalt, but also by cheap Chinese production, which now dominates global markets. At the same time, China dominates the value chain of key materials and is interested in maintaining this dominance, says Filip Křenek, project coordinator and analyst at EUROPEUM Institute, in an interview with Ekonomický deník.

In an article for the international magazine The Diplomat, Tereza Novotná, an Associate Research Fellow at EUROPEUM Institute, analyzes NATO's new direction, focusing on the Indo-Pacific region. The alliance aims to keep American engagement, curb Russian aggression, and limit China's influence, with strengthening cooperation with partners like South Korea being crucial for ensuring global stability. The article also includes recommendations for enhancing these relationships.

Tereza Novotná, an Associate Research Fellow at the EUROPEUM Institute, explores the emotional dimensions of EU foreign policy in her article for the Journal of European Integration. The analysis examines how emotional factors shape political decisions and responses regarding EU human rights sanctions against China and North Korea, highlighting differing outcomes in these cases and suggesting that incorporating emotional awareness could enhance policy effectiveness.

The essential components needed to grow the modern economy include chips and semiconductors, solar panels and batteries for electric cars. All of these are imported into Europe from Asian countries instead of manufacturing capacity being built here. Viktor Daňek, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, said it is necessary to open a debate on the reform of the common budget and new revenues.

The European Union economically lags behind the United States of America and China. The recent meeting in Brussels reflected concerns about a slowdown in the EU economy, which entered 2024 with lower-than-expected growth. EUROPEUM Institute analyst Vít Havelka commented on this situation for ČRo Plus.