Managing Interdependence in the EU – China Relations: Economic Aspects

Amidst current world order transformations, characterized by the balance of power shift towards non-Western countries, the research primarily revolves around the growing US – China confrontation. Yet, the ambivalence of the EU – China relations is no less an example of how key actors are trying to find their place and efficient instruments to promote their interests in the changing environment.

For the European Union this issue is particularly relevant due to its specific mode of actorness. The EU policy towards China is a critical case to understand how the Union can strengthen its position in the emerging multipolar world order without balancing, but still preserving opportunities to gain more resources through engagement with various centers of power.

The article presents the model to analyze the EU policy towards China and uses it to compare institutional and normative capabilities of the EU to protect common interests in key areas, crucial for the bilateral dialogue in the sphere of economy: trade, innovations, science and technology and “green” agenda.

The article concludes that the key factor for the EU to maintain its security and preserve its interests is the capability to manage interdependence. In the spheres, where objective competitiveness level or institutional capabilities allow to do so, cooperation trends prevail. Where competitive advantages of the EU are not so evident and there is lack of institutional capacity to promote interests outwards, confrontation emerges. Therefore, the EU is currently focused on developing internal defensive mechanisms, in the form of legal acts and other regulation tools at the disposal, as the first step to manage interdependence and avoid balancing against China to its own economic detriment.

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