Taking Stock of the European Parliamentary Elections for the Future of EU-China Relations

Long dismissed as “second order” elections, of little consequence to Europeans let alone anyone else, the EP elections will play a key role in shaping the EU’s trajectory over the coming years, including in foreign policy. This commentary will focus on the impact of the elections—and of the party political and institutional configurations to which they will give rise—on the EU’s relationship with China. The next section gives an overview of the EU-China relationship, highlighting key areas of tension. This is followed by a discussion of the role of the Parliament and the likely implications of the election.