MERICS EU-China Hub

Welcome to the MERICS EU-China Hub. On this web page, you will find our current research and analysis of major developments between Beijing, Brussels and other European capitals. Our experts present their insights in in-depth studies, quick-read opinion pieces and short analyses as well as podcasts, videos and graphics.

European flags in front of the European Commission headquarters in Brussels.

EU-China

The new European Commission and China + EU trade with China and the US + EV tariffs

François Chimits

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Oct 18, 2024

Research

EU-China

The Europe-China Resilience Audit: Insights for advancing European resilience

Grzegorz Stec, Helena Legarda

Report

Oct 31, 2024

Profiling European countries' resilience towards China

Report

Oct 31, 2024

European resilience will require a more proactive approach to partnerships

Abigaël Vasselier

Helena Legarda

Comment

Oct 31, 2024

Building resilience: The need for a geopolitical European Commission and strong leadership from Member States

Abigaël Vasselier

Grzegorz Stec

Comment

Oct 31, 2024

How China sees the EU's changing leadership + EV subsidies + China-Russia

Abigaël Vasselier

François Chimits

Claus Soong

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Jul 18, 2024

EU-China tariff talks + South China Sea tensions + PLA meeting

MERICS Briefs

Jun 27, 2024

EV tariffs + Ukraine-China + Job market

MERICS Briefs

Jun 13, 2024

Takeaways from the Xi-Putin meeting + Manufacturing overcapacity + Agrifood trade

François Chimits

Eva Seiwert

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

May 24, 2024

Xi's visit to Europe + Quantum technology + Hong Kong

MERICS Briefs

May 16, 2024

How EP parties see China + EV exports + Trade and Technology Council

François Chimits

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Apr 26, 2024

Li Hui’s Europe tour 2.0 + Beijing’s mediation as seen from Kyiv + Market distortions

François Chimits

Yurii Poita

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Mar 21, 2024

China and the Red Sea crisis + EU anti-forced labor instrument

Helena Legarda

François Chimits

MERICS Briefs

Feb 22, 2024

Relations between the EU and China: what to watch for in 2024

Abigaël Vasselier

François Chimits

MERICS Briefs

Jan 25, 2024

Bracing for geopolitical competition – insights from the MERICS China Forecast 2024

Grzegorz Stec

Claus Soong

Comment

Jan 17, 2024

China’s missing offer to Europe ahead of the EU-China summit

Abigaël Vasselier

Comment

Dec 06, 2023

EU-China summit + EU-US summit

François Chimits

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Nov 20, 2023

Profiling relations of European countries with China

Francesca Ghiretti

Helena Legarda

Grzegorz Stec

Abigaël Vasselier

Report

Oct 31, 2023

In research collaboration, drawing red lines with China isn’t easy

Rebecca Arcesati

Francesca Ghiretti

Sylvia Schwaag Serger

Comment

Oct 24, 2023

EU risk assessment + Borrell and Wang dialogue + Chinese views on EU's strategic ambitions

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Oct 19, 2023

Chinese assessments of de-risking (CSIS)

Francesca Ghiretti

External publication

Oct 03, 2023

Chinese investments in European maritime infrastructure (European Parliament)

Francesca Ghiretti

Jacob Gunter

External publication

Oct 03, 2023

Dombrovskis in China + Open criticism of China’s economic direction + Tech de-risking

MERICS Briefs

Sep 28, 2023

The EU's agenda on China for the months ahead + New Asia Director at EEAS

Francesca Ghiretti

Abigaël Vasselier

MERICS Briefs

Sep 22, 2023

From China strategy to no strategy at all: Exploring European approaches

A report by the European Think-tank Network on China (ETNC), July 2023

Report

Jul 27, 2023

EU Council summit + Export controls + Foreign relations law

MERICS Briefs

Jul 06, 2023

Updating the EU action plan on China: De-risk, engage, coordinate

François Chimits

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

Report

Jun 29, 2023

EU economic security strategy + Li Hui's trip to Europe

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Jun 15, 2023

The EU’s approach to China + Zelensky-Xi call + Italy’s MoU on the BRI

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

May 11, 2023

Six priorities for “de-risking” EU relations with China (Internationale Politik)

Mikko Huotari

Grzegorz Stec

Comment

Apr 21, 2023

De-risking viewed from China + EU anti-coercion instrument

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Apr 14, 2023

Von der Leyen and Macron in China + Alibaba splits into 6 companies + China blocks foreign users from database

MERICS Briefs

Apr 06, 2023

China debates on the EU's geopolitical standing + European leaders' visits to Beijing

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Mar 10, 2023

From opportunity to risk: The changing economic security policies vis-à-vis China

Francesca Ghiretti

Report

Feb 22, 2023

US-China relations + German debates on China

Francesca Ghiretti

Barbara Pongratz

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Feb 10, 2023

Diversification isn’t enough to cure Europe’s economic dependence on China

Francesca Ghiretti

Hanns W. Maull

Comment

Jan 30, 2023

China's precarious path forward – insights from the MERICS China Forecast 2023

Roderick Kefferpütz

Comment

Jan 18, 2023

China wants to mend fences – and Europe must fend off menaces

Alicja Bachulska

Comment

Dec 20, 2022

EU-China relations in 2022 + Managing dependencies

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Dec 08, 2022

Party Congress implications for the EU + Germany's China policy

Francesca Ghiretti

Barbara Pongratz

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Nov 10, 2022

Net-zero Europe risks a heavy dependence on China

Alexander Brown

Comment

Oct 31, 2022

China debates on France and Germany + EU anti-forced labor instrument

François Chimits

Thomas des Garets Geddes

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Sep 29, 2022

EU-China climate cooperation + China's new Special Representative for Central and Eastern Europe

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Sep 15, 2022

EU-China calendar for the remainder of 2022 + Chinese LNG exports to Europe

Grzegorz Stec

Francesca Ghiretti

MERICS Briefs

Sep 02, 2022

Mild wording but harsh timing: Latvia and Estonia’s exit from the “16+1”

Una Bērziņa-Čerenkova

Comment

Aug 22, 2022

Crisis in the Taiwan Strait + 14+1

Francesca Ghiretti

MERICS Briefs

Aug 18, 2022

How China views the EU amid the Russia-Ukraine war + Global Gateway + Departing EU Ambassador to China

Grzegorz Stec

Francesca Ghiretti

MERICS Briefs

Aug 04, 2022

UK-China relations +EU-China economic dialogue +Tech-competition

Thomas des Garets Geddes

Grzegorz Stec

Francesca Ghiretti

MERICS Briefs

Jul 21, 2022

Italy pushes back against China’s technology transfer

Rebecca Arcesati

Francesca Ghiretti

Comment

Jul 01, 2022

Czech EU presidency + Next EU ambassador to China + NATO summit preview

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Jun 23, 2022

Is China still trying to win the EU over? + Germany’s shifting China relations + Taiwan

Francesca Ghiretti

Roderick Kefferpütz

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Jun 10, 2022

Trade and Technology Council + Chinese debates on sanctions on Russia + EU-Japan summit

Rebecca Arcesati

Thomas des Garets Geddes

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

May 19, 2022

China-CEE relations + Xinhua interviews with Kuleba and Lavrov + UK-China relations

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

May 05, 2022

Dependence in Europe's Relations with China

Weighing Perceptions and Reality

Bernhard Bartsch

Francesca Ghiretti

Barbara Pongratz

External publication

Apr 26, 2022

How China lost Central and Eastern Europe

Ivana Karásková

Comment

Apr 22, 2022

EU-China Summit + French elections + Newport Wafer Fab

Thomas des Garets Geddes

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Apr 14, 2022

EU-China summits: From cooperation to damage control

Grzegorz Stec

Comment

Apr 11, 2022

EU-China summit + Strategic Compass + Biden in Brussels

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Mar 31, 2022

Ukraine + US-China talks + EU International Procurement Instrument

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Mar 17, 2022

Indo-Pacific watch: Lessons from Ukraine for the Indo-Pacific

Helena Legarda

Comment

Mar 15, 2022

Three Franco-German priorities for Europe’s China policy: economic security, proactive innovation and coordination on Asia-Pacific

François Godement

Mikko Huotari

Comment

Mar 15, 2022

Chinese debates on Ukraine + EU-Indo-Pacific Forum + Strategic dependency

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

Thomas des Garets Geddes

MERICS Briefs

Mar 03, 2022

Balancing China in the Indo-Pacific: the role of France and Germany

Mathieu Duchâtel

Roderick Kefferpütz

Comment

Feb 22, 2022

China-Russia + Research cooperation + EU-Africa Summit

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Feb 17, 2022

An expert look at EU-China 2022 + China-Lithuania + EU-China WTO dispute

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

Thomas des Garets Geddes

MERICS Briefs

Feb 03, 2022

MERICS China Forecast 2022

Political relations expected to worsen, but economic ties to remain stable

Comment

Jan 26, 2022

French EU presidency + Transatlantic coordination on China + Lithuania

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Jan 20, 2022

China’s defense against the war of words

Comment

Jan 05, 2022

China’s participation in RCEP has implications for Europe

Aya Adachi

Comment

Jan 04, 2022

EU-China audit + German coalition agreement + EU FDI screening mechanism

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Dec 02, 2021

Big fish in small ponds: China’s subnational diplomacy in Europe

Roderick Kefferpütz

Report

Nov 18, 2021

Taiwan + Climate cooperation + Global Gateway

Thomas des Garets Geddes

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Nov 18, 2021

China at G20 + COP26: No pledges + Two Europe trips: China and Taiwan

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Nov 04, 2021

Western Balkans + Sino-German relations + Czech China policy

Thomas des Garets Geddes

Francesca Ghiretti

Jacob Mardell

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Oct 14, 2021

Screening foreign investment in the EU – the first year

Francesca Ghiretti

Comment

Oct 14, 2021

Franco-German tandem on China + AUKUS + Trade and Technology Council

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

Thomas des Garets Geddes

MERICS Briefs

Sep 30, 2021

Taiwan + Indo-Pacific + EU China policy

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Sep 16, 2021

EU’s event-packed fall will set the tone for its China policy in 2022

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

Comment

Aug 31, 2021

China high on the EU's agenda this fall + Lithuania + Berlin's Indo-Pacific Strategy

Francesca Ghiretti

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Aug 31, 2021

The EU’s new connectivity agenda – What (not) to learn from the Belt and Road Initiative?

What (not) to learn from the Belt and Road Initiative?

Jacob Mardell

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Jul 29, 2021

Europe's Connectivity Agenda + Semiconductor supply chains + Cyber weaknesses

Rebecca Arcesati

Thomas des Garets Geddes

Katja Drinhausen

John Lee

Jacob Mardell

Grzegorz Stec

MERICS Briefs

Jul 29, 2021

China’s rule and standard-setting ambitions for global trade

Implications for EU trade policy

Matt Ferchen

Thomas des Garets Geddes

Barbara Pongratz

Report

Jul 29, 2021

Insights

EU-China

MERICS Forum: Chinese EV investments in Europe

Comment

Oct 17, 2024

Cars at the Port of Nanjing, China's Jiangsu Province

Mikko Huotari: "We are at a watershed moment in EU-China relations"

Video

Sep 17, 2020

Revisiting Europe‘s „One China Policy” (Handelsblatt)

Hanns W. Maull

Sep 14, 2020

Reinhard Bütikofer: "We are learning to avoid being enchanted by ‘win-win’ rhetoric.”

Interview

Sep 10, 2020

China's repression in Xinjiang and the reluctant international response (ntv)

Katja Drinhausen

Sep 06, 2020

Europe should realize it has leverage to stand up to China (Nikkei Asian Review)

Max J. Zenglein

Jul 10, 2020

If push comes to shove, less China

Mikko Huotari

Comment

Jul 08, 2020

How Germany could shape Europe’s policy on China

Comment

Jul 07, 2020

“China considers Germany a major western partner and listens when it speaks.” (M. Gourdault-Montagne)

Maurice Gourdault-Montagne on Germany’s EU Presidency and Europe’s future China policy

Interview

Jul 02, 2020

Events

EU-China

Party and State

China’s Handling of Biometric Data: Trends and Implications for Europe

Jun. 14, 2022

EU-China

Russia-China

Geopolitics

US-China

China’s Return of Uncertainty – A Perfect Storm?

May. 31, 2022

Experts on EU-China

Abigaël Vasselier

Director Policy & European Affairs/Head of Program Foreign Relations

Grzegorz Stec

Head of Brussels Office

François Chimits

Senior Economist (Brussels office)

Mikko Huotari

Executive Director

Helena Legarda

Lead Analyst