The European Commission is preparing to take a significantly harder line against China. According to Politico Europe, Brussels is increasingly concerned about the impact of cheap imports on European industry and the dependence on critical raw materials from China. These developments could jeopardize the EU's industrial base and undermine its competitiveness.
Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur discuss the challenges arising from this dependency in the latest episode of the Brussels Playbook podcast. The EU faces not only economic risks but also security threats stemming from China's dominance in certain raw material markets.
Additionally, the episode highlights the ongoing difficulties Russia faces in procuring European technologies through shell companies and third countries like Turkey, despite more than 20 EU sanctions. These circumvention strategies pose a serious challenge for the EU and require increased monitoring and regulation.
Finally, the upcoming debates in the European Parliament in Strasbourg are noted, where lawmakers will again discuss issues such as parliamentary immunity and the role of the prosecution. These discussions could have far-reaching implications for the EU's political landscape.
