BRI and EU-China connectivity: European perceptions, aims and concerns

OBOR figures in the eyes of the EU as a potentially constructive initiative, to which it is ready to respond in a business-like manner and which it wants to further explore for opportunities leading to cooperation that genuinely serve the interests of both sides, while remaining alert to possible pitfalls and attempts by Beijing to get its way by employing divide and rule tactics among EU member states. OBOR is not viewed as a giant leap forward, but rather as one in a series of steps that can possibly foster steadily close engagement with China. As the end point and focus of China’s OBOR initiative, the EU is well aware of its important role in the initiative. Therefore, the EU aims to take advantage of this opportunity on condition that the Chinese are willing to take into consideration its vital interests and conditions. In the end of the day, OBOR is primarily about trade and investment. That is the foreign policy field in which the treaties have endowed the EU with exclusive competence. The main aim of this chapter is to explore the EU’s perception, aims and concerns regarding the OBOR initiative.