PAN MEP questions investment deal between EU and China

Lisbon, 6 May 2020 – MEP Francisco Guerreiro (PAN) questioned the European Commission on the investment and trade deal between the European Union and China, namely, if transparency and freedom of information will be seen as “red lines” by the EU negotiators. The question comes after news that the European External Action Service (EEAS) softened its criticism to the Chinese governament, under pressure from Chinese diplomats.

According to an article on The New York Times, because of strong pressure from the Chinese government, the EEAS softened its criticism of the final report on how China’s government actions to push disinformation about response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  A decision the EEAS took in hopes “to win trade concessions from Beijing and restore a rich relationship once the pandemic has passed,“ the New York Times’ journalist writes.

Faced with this situation, that the PAN MEP considers worrying, he questioned the European Commission on the current state of the negotiatons of the investment deal between EU and China. 

The question tries to understand if the conclusion of this deal is still scheduled for 2020, if transparency and freedom of information will have an impact on bilateral negotiations, and if the EU foresees an investment in strategic chains of value to reduce high dependency on third countries (like China) when it comes to medical equipments, as well as other goods and services.

See the full question below:

Last year, the EU and China agreed to conclude the investment deal in 2020. However, we should be prudent and consider the following: it is deeply worrying that China is suppressing information on Covid-19, nationally and abroad. The New York Times[1] reports that the EEAS allegedly rewrote a document about disinformation in ways that diluted the focus on China. Nationally, journalists are not allowed to do their work properly, minorities are imprisoned and State propaganda is omnipresent. 

Taken into account this information, and the fact that the EU is highly dependent on China for the (current) supply of medical equipment and medicine, as well as for other goods and services, I ask: 

1. Is the Commission expecting to finalize a deal with China still in 2020? 
2. Are transparency and freedom of information considered as “red lines“ by the EU negotiating team?
3. Is the Commission considering in the negotiations the “pressing need to produce critical goods in Europe, to invest in strategic value chains and to reduce over-dependency on third countries [China] in these areas [medical manufacturing]”[2]?

[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/world/europe/disinformation-china-eu-coronavirus.html

[2] Paper issued by Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, president of the European Council:  https://www.ft.com/content/95dcaac2-162e-4ff4-aca5-bb852f03b1e9

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