Key findings of a study
11. Juli 2024
A study on the influence of extreme parties in the European Parliament on the EU-China relationship has recently been published written by Kara Němečková (author) and Ivana Karásková (co-author) from our partner organisation AMO (Association for International Affairs).
In recent years, the European Union has encountered significant difficulties in its relationship with China, necessitating a comprehensive recalibration of its policy frameworks. As a key participant in the legislative process, the European Parliament has the ability to either enhance or dilute the EU’s array of policy tools concerning China. Beijing has been aware of the significant role the EU institutions play in shaping the bloc’s policy towards it. Thus it has become increasingly important for China to engage with and potentially influence legislators at not only the national but also the European levels. The study From the Fringes to the Forefront: How Extreme Parties in the European Parliament Can Shape EU-China Relations, authored by Dr. Ivana Karásková and Kara Němečková, looks at the methods that China uses to approach European politicians, analyzes the current European Parliament’s position on China and discusses how predicted gains in seats by far right- and left-wing political parties may influence any new EP stance on China.
Key findings:
- China, though newer to electoral interference in Europe compared to Russia, is increasingly sophisticated and active in its attempts to influence European elections and decision-making through various means, including political influence, information manipulation, bribery and espionage.
- The EP seems particularly susceptible to security risks, as illustrated on scandals such as Quatargate, alleged payments from Russia to European politicians processed by an outlet called Voice of Europe, and the recent arrest in Germany of an aide to MEP Maximilian Krah for espionage.
- The analysis of voting behaviours from 2019 to March 2024 within the European Parliament’s Identity and Democracy (ID) and Left groups reveals a consistent pattern of opposition to resolutions addressing foreign interference and EU-China relations, demonstrating a shared scepticism towards mainstream EU stances on China.
Link to the study: https://www.amo.cz/en/from-the-fringes-to-the-forefront-how-extreme-parties-in-the-european-parliament-can-shape-eu-china-relations/
Written by AMO