EN E-000708/2021
Reply
(5.7.2021)
The European Commission concluded, in principle, the negotiations for a Comprehensive Agreement on Investment with China at the end of 2020.
This was in line with the European Council conclusions (1) of 1-2 October 2020 which recalled the goal of finalising, by the end of 2020, negotiations for an ambitious EU-China Comprehensive Investment Agreement (CAI) that would address the current asymmetries in market access, contribute to a level playing field and establish meaningful commitments on sustainable development.
The European Council stressed the need to rebalance the economic relationship and achieve reciprocity. It also called on China to deliver on previous commitments to address market access barriers, to make progress on overcapacity and to engage in negotiations on industrial subsidies at the World Trade Organization.
The Council has not yet received a proposal on signing this agreement. The Council will discuss in-depth every aspect of the agreement, including the issues raised by the Honourable Member, before taking its position.
Moreover, the EU will continue to conduct its overall policy towards China in line with the multi-faceted approach endorsed at the European Council on 1-2 October 2020, which reaffirmed the 2016 China Strategy (2) and the 2019 “EU-China: A Strategic Outlook” (3), which continue to form the basis for a distinct European approach.
1 EUCO 13/20
2 11252/16
3 7566/19
© European Union, 2021 – EP