Members of the European Parliament this week urged a firmer, principle-driven EU policy towards China that balances sustained dialogue with stronger protection of European interests.
What Parliament is doing
The call came from the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs. MEPs stressed the need for a stronger and principled EU-China policy that combines continued engagement with measures to better safeguard Europe’s economic and strategic interests, while keeping human rights on the agenda.
Why it matters
Parliament’s position links three priorities: maintaining lines of diplomatic and political dialogue with China, ensuring fair treatment of European businesses and economic actors, and defending human rights principles. The Committee on Foreign Affairs framed this approach as a way to manage one of the EU’s most important external relationships while addressing perceived imbalances and risks.
What happens next
The statement reflects the Committee on Foreign Affairs’ stance on EU-China relations. The press release does not specify particular legislative measures, timelines, or votes that will follow, nor does it detail concrete proposals or instruments to be used to implement the stronger policy it calls for.
Source: European Parliament press release
