Activities of Helmut SCHOLZ related to 2021/2037(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
A new EU-China strategy (debate)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on a new EU-China strategy
Amendments (66)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
— having regard to the EU-China Strategic Partnership launched in 2003,
Amendment 7 #
1. Notes that in 2020 China for the first time ranked as the EU’s largest partner for trade in goods, with the trade balance further deteriorating to the EU’s detriment; points out, however, that mutual investment levels remain relatively low and way beyond the potential;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
— having regard to the resolution of 21 January 2021 from the European Parliament on connectivity and EU-Asia relations,
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is convinced that the EU-China bilateral trade and investment relationship is of strategic importance and should be rules-based, with the multilateral trading system at its core; stresses that who wants to be a first class competitor on the globe, needs to play by first class standards, including with regard to the impact of what we do on climate, on environment, on biodiversity, on poverty, on health, on labour rights, and on human rights;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
— having regard to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Climate Agreement, which came into force on 4 November 2016,
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Calls on the EU and China to assume their responsibility for the global economy and the future of the planet as important international actors and avoid a transformation of the relations into confrontation; stresses that good and constructive cooperation between both partners is necessary to address global problems; reiterates that China remains a strategic partner for the EU and has been a reliable partner in many areas of international cooperation and upholding multilateralism;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas through its strong economic growth and ambitious foreign policy agenda, China is asserting a stronger global role both as an economic power and as foreign policy actor, which poses serious political, economic, security and technological challenges to the EU, has significant consequences for the world order and poses threats to liberal democracy;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Repeats its deep concern about the many barriers that European businesses face when accessing and operating on the Chinese market; is worried that China’s ‘dual circulation strategy’ referred to in its 14th Five Year Plan will further deteriorate, while EU companies have observed a significant amount of untapped market potential in China; hints to the fact that China’s middle-class counts already more than 400 million people; takes note of China’s ‘dual circulation strategy’ referred to in its 14th Five Year Plan and wonders how China’s “dual circulation strategy” corresponds with the EU's “open strategic autonomy” strategy and the “buy American” approach of the Biden-Harris administration; calls on the partners to better inform what changes these strategies will bring for the business environment for EU companies; highlights again its particular concern about the market distorting practices of certain Chinese state-owned enterprises, forced technology transfers and data localisation, industrial overcapacity in sectors such as steel and the relatedand reiterates its view that SoEs must play along the rules when acting in a market environment; highlights the benefits of research and development cooperation, while rejecting forced technology transfers and data localisation; calls for solutions to the problem of persisting industrial overcapacity in certain sectors, including steel, while taking note of the tremendous efforts China has made in closing down outdated production sides, relocating and re-training workers, and modernising production with the goal of reducing industrial CO2 emissions, which opens also new chances for technological and economical cooperation with EU companies; takes note of the extraordinary high share of Chinese companies in anti-dumping cases launched by the EU commission, welcomes the effectiveness of these measures, calls on the Chinese authorities to increase their efforts to end the practise of dumping of exports, and other unfair trading practices including social and environmental dumping;
Amendment 41 #
4 a. Notes that the Belt and Road Initiative launched by China constitutes the largest investment endeavour in history; calls for a stronger involvement of the EU Commission in the BRI, in particular by contributing with expertise on sustainability impact assessments for projects, and on transparency rule in accordance with the Aarhus Convention; recalls that, as of January 2021, the number of countries that have joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China is 140, including 18 Member States of the European Union, namely Austria, Bulgaria,Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. Whereas in 2020, China was the main trading partner in goods for the EU; whereas economic and trade relations are an important component element of EU- China cooperation, but not its only determining factor;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. Whereas the People’s Republic of China has been described by the EU institutions as a cooperation partner, a negotiating partner with conflicting interests, an economic competitor, and a systemic rival; whereas, however, for many years EU has managed to maintain mutual advantageous relations with China which balanced the different challenges stemming from very different constitutional, political and ideological structures and self-understanding of both the partners grounded on historical and cultural experiences and developments including the relations between both entities;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
A c. Whereas the EU’s announced systemic rivalry can increasingly be seen as the overriding paradigm in how the EU deals with China; whereas this development is influenced by US efforts to shore up its allies across the globe — including Europe — as President Joseph Biden seeks to counter Beijing’s rising influence;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Points out that while the EU has done some work with China in the context of the EU-China Connectivity Platform, the potential of this co-operation if far bigger; recommends to avoid unnecessary duplication in connectivity projects; calls for a much better coordinated cooperation with China also on connectivity projects in the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative on the basis of fair access, sustainable development, inclusiveness, good governance, rule of law, ambitious social, environmental and fiscal standards, open and transparent rules, in particular as regards public procurement;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
A d. Whereas instead of keeping diplomacy and political dialogue to settle differences and conflicts in the mutual relations, to clarify historic reasons for current interpretations of different interests and by that to create an understanding of the various approaches for shaping the current relationship and to understand and accept the systemic rivalry as a task for constructive competition and cooperation, sanctions have become the policy tool of choice of the EU with the aim to penalises political behaviour which has led to non- acceptable counter-measures by China;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)
Recital A e (new)
A e. Whereas in 2018, the European Investment Fund and the Silk Road Fund, one of China’s sovereign funds, jointly established the China-EU Co-Investment Fund (“CECIF”) programme to support investment based in the EU and demonstrating relevance to China;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A f (new)
Recital A f (new)
A f. Whereas China is an investor in European Investment Bank bonds and the European Investment Bank has also been working with the China Green Finance Committee (under the aegis of the People’s Bank of China) to develop a common definition between Europe and China of green projects and green bond standards;
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the conclusion at the political level of the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI); recalls that the CAI has to be considered in the context of a strengthened EU toolbox of unilateral measures, as well as the arrival of an accompanying package of sustainable corporate governance legislation; underlines it will thoroughly scrutinise the agreement, including its sustainable development section, and take stock of the human rights context, before determining its position;
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. Whereas both sides disagree on the fundamental question of values and norms as well as interests dedicated to the development of the entities; whereas both China and the EU are bound to their obligations under international human rights law; whereas the EU and China reaffirmed that human rights are universal, indivisible, and interdependent and interrelated, but have implemented this obligation in a different manner linking this task to national strategies of developing both the EU on the one hand and China on the other; whereas China as the EU has repeatedly reiterated its full support for international law enshrined in the UN Charter; whereas China has a track record of individual human rights violations in particular in the political dimension while hundreds of millions of individuals had been brought out of poverty and acknowledged with social developments which never had been a reality in the traditional circles of social structures at the ground but what creates a very differentiated picture about the country’s international commitments and obligations from international law;
Amendment 79 #
(a) elaborate a more assertive EU- China strategy that unites all Member States and shapes relations with Beijing in the interest of the EU as a whole, while defending our values andbased on cooperation and dialogue, the promotingon of a rules-based multilateral order anda new model for fair trade relations that respects human rights and international commitments on environment and renewable energy, non-proliferation and disarmament and labour rights;
Amendment 80 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Calls for an increased joint engagement of the EU and China on the promotion and defence of human rights by closely cooperating in the implementation of a binding due diligence approach for companies of both partners involved together in value chains; calls on the EU Commission to invite China, and the U.S and other important actors to become part of this new benchmarking method;
Amendment 85 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Stresses, in this context, that respect for the right to form and join trade unions and to bargain collectively is a fundamental criterion of corporate responsibility; Deplores the fact that freedom of association is being violated in many places along production chains; demands respect for the role of trade unions, social dialogue and fundamental principles and rights at work;
Amendment 87 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5 d. Notes that 26 EU Member States have old-style Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) with China;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point 2
Paragraph 1 – point b – point 2
2) Engagement on human rights issues through economic leveragethe promotion and defence of human rights;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point 6
Paragraph 1 – point b – point 6
6) Defence of core European interests and values by tTransforming the EU into a major geopolitical and development actor;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Stresses that EU-China cooperation should be more people- oriented and deliver more real benefits to citizens in order to build mutual trust and understanding;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Deeply regrets the sanctions and counter-sanctions that have been mutually imposed on each other; Stresses that sanctions tend to be easier to introduce than to lift and therefore result in a years long confrontation in the relations which only tend to get worse;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Believes it is imperative that both the EU and China do not act in a belligerent way towards each other or other countries, including through its rhetoric; highlights that both parties should always seek to promote dialogue where conflicts arise;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Underlines that in EU-China inter-parliamentary dialogue is not a reward, but an instrument to raise concerns, to exchange views and to promote mutual understanding and trust; notes that the EP uses this instrument in the relations with many other partners with whom deep differences persist;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for the EU to engage in dialogue with China on possible ways to ensure better global preparedness to respond to pandemics; calls further on China to cooperate fully in an independent investigation into the origins of COVID;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Calls on the EU and China to assume their responsibility as important international actors and avoid a transformation of the relations into confrontation; stresses that good cooperation between both partners is necessary to address global problems; reiterates that China remains a strategic partner for the EU and has been a reliable partner in many areas of international cooperation and upholding multilateralism;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Engagement on human rights issues through economic leveragethe promotion and defence of human rights
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to use the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) as a leverage instrument to improve the protection of human rights and support for civil society in China;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Recalls that not all EU Member States have ratified ILO conventions, calls on the EU to continue to work within and in conjunction with the ILO and recalls the importance of compliance with labour standards in the EU and by European companies outside the EU if it is to have the legitimacy to demand that other countries do so;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Stresses, in this context, that respect for the right to form and join trade unions and to bargain collectively is a fundamental criterion of corporate responsibility; Deplores the fact that freedom of association is being violated in many places of production; demands respect for the role of trade unions, social dialogue and fundamental principles and rights at work, such as freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining for all workers;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – introductory part
Paragraph 8 – introductory part
8. Underlines the conditions and pre- ratification commitments that must be met beforshould in order for the Parliament canto give its consent to the EU-China CAI, notably:
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point b
Paragraph 8 – point b
(b) a recommitment by China to uphold its international commitments to Hong Kong under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and Hong Kong’s Basic Law, and to enhance dialogue and political paths for developing citizens backed democratic implementation of the internationally recognised One China policy in accordance with all commitments of “One country, two systems” approaches and still existing different interpretations und long-time experiences by various political and social forces in the societies;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point c
Paragraph 8 – point c
(c) lifting the counter-sanctions imposed by the Chinese Government on EU entities and individuals, as a good faith step towards the EU also lifting sanctions on China;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to put forward the proposed Mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence Framework as a matter of urgency; calls on the EU to support all efforts to achieve the adoption of the new Binding Instrument on Business and Human Rights in the framework of the United Nations;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Believes that the future EU strategy on China should provide the necessary tools and data to analyse the political, economic, social and technological threats stemming from China, its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and 17+1 policies, its investment strategy and their implications for the Union’s strategic autonomy and the liberal order;
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Amendment 289 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point b
Paragraph 14 – point b
(b) building on the EU toolbox for national risk-mitigating measures, to develop joint standards for the new generation of technologies, such as 5G networks and to promote our own industry in the EU to reduce our external dependence;
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point d
Paragraph 14 – point d
(d) ensuring that the President of the Commission is present at the BRI annual forum to ensure that the decisions taken by EU Member States involved in the BRI initiative are in line with EU policies and interests and the promotion of Human Rights;
Amendment 322 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Underlines that there have been bilateral and uncoordinated engagement of some Member States with China, and ththat have failured to inform the Commission when signing Memoranda of Understanding with third countries, is counterproductive;
Amendment 323 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Notes that currently there are 26 Member States of the EU that have Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) with China;
Amendment 347 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Is concerned by the assertive and, at times, aggressive diplomatic pressure from the Chinese authorities; underlines that EU institutions can in no way bow to pressure or censorship from Chinese channelcurrent state of affairs in the relationship between the EU and China; notes that only through dialogue can both parties overcome their differences;
Amendment 360 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the VP/HR to coordinate the Union’s actions with like-minded partners on the protection of human rights and support for civil society in China and for Chinese diaspora around the world, as well as the defence of liberal democracy in the world, notably in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and with a view to engaging China to respect international law, the freedom of navigation and the peaceful resolution of disputes;
Amendment 377 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Considers it necessaryimportant for the EU to promote a balanced and prosperous transatlantic relationship with the Biden Administration, in order to maintain and demonstrate the united strength of global liberal democracies in multilateral organisationrebuild the multilateral organisations and generate international consensus;
Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Underlines the importance of the EU remaining vigilantattentive about China’s changing role and growing influence in multilateral organisations and to ensure better coordination among the Member States and towards combining the strength of global liberal democracies in order to respond to this development;
Amendment 392 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
Amendment 396 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
Amendment 406 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Welcomes the Council’s intention to reinforce the EU’s strategic focus, presence and action incollaboration and relationship with the Indo-Pacific region by launching a new EU Strategy for cooperation in the Indo- Pacific;
Amendment 413 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Underlines that investment and trade conditionality by itself is not enough to counter Chinese assertiveness; finds that the EU should increase strategic autonomy by addressing other dimensions of the EU-China relationship, notably digital and technological sovereignty and supply chain security;
Amendment 416 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Points out that the EU has worked with China in the context of the EU- China Connectivity Platform; calls for coordinated cooperation with China on the Belt and Road Initiative on the basis of reciprocity, sustainable development, inclusiveness, good governance, rule of law, ambitious social, environmental and fiscal standards, open and transparent rules, in particular as regards public procurement;
Amendment 422 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26 a. Calls on the Commission to keep the negotiated main content of the EU- China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) with its new approach to include a broad understanding of ensuring the protection of both political and social human rights in all its aspects in China and the EU in the TSD Chapter and calls for including enforcement mechanisms in accordance with international commitments; notices that the CAI ever first in EU agreements with third countries calls both parties in accordance with their commitment to enhance the contribution of investment to the goal of sustainable development, including its labour aspects, and recognises that the Parties agree to promote investment policies which further the objectives of the Decent Work Agenda, in accordance with the2008 ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalisation, and the 2019ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work, including a human-centred approach to the future of work, adequate minimum wages, social protection and safety and health at work;
Amendment 432 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to propose a strategy to deal with trade imbalances more broadly, going beyond the current trade defensive instruments, if necessary, so as to tackle the large structural trade deficit, China’s use of large-scale export credits and loans, the opaque financing of strategicboth European and Chinese companies, China’s policy of indigenous innovation connected to efforts to promote Chinese standards, and its endeavour to become a leading export nation of advanced technological goods;
Amendment 434 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Considers it necessary to concludeNotes the possibility of signing a Bilateral Investment Agreement with Taiwan in parallel with the CAI and in line with the One China policy, which would ensure that stability is safeguarded in the region and; stresses the need to respect the pright to Taiwan’s democratic existence is reaffirmednciple of one country two systems;
Amendment 442 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Considers it necessary to develop new industrial policies in areas such as microchips and semiconductor production, rare earth mining, cloud computing and telecoms technology in order to decrease EU’s reliadependence on Chinese supply chainsand other external supply chains, in order to become a relevant technological player on the international scene;
Amendment 449 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Underlines the importance on working on AI regulation and on an ethical and civil liability framework for AI systems and affiliated technologies that boosts citizen-centred and privacy- sensitive innovation, in partnership with key strategic partners that share the EU’s liberal and democratic valuein order to safeguard citizen’s fundamental rights;
Amendment 451 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32 a. Underlines EU and China’s mutual interest in promoting low-carbon development and addressing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in transparent, public and well-regulated energy markets; believes in the value of strategic EU- China partnerships as necessary for the implementation of the Paris Agreement and for the effective combating of climate change; calls on the EU and China to use their political weight to advance the implementation of the Paris Agreement as well as the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and urges a cooperative approach at the Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC;
Amendment 455 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6
Subheading 6
Amendment 469 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Points to the need to strengthen the EU’s tools to defend itself, increase its capacity to protect its interests overseas, acquire greater influence in its direct neighbourhood and ensure that the Member States are united in their geopolitical approach;
Amendment 475 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Believes that the Conference on the Future of Europe should be used to discuss the EU’s strategic autonomy as an autonomy that is self-reliant and to give the VP/HR a stronger mandate to act on behalf of the EU and take the necessary steps to introduce qualitied majority voting in certain areas of foreign affairs, as well as to create a European Defence Union; notes that in order to comply with this, the Treaty of Lisbon needs to be reviewed;
Amendment 485 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
Amendment 499 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Points out the need to equip the European External Action Service with a mandate and the necessary resources to study and counter Chinese disinformation operations;