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| EU Institutions’ Perceptions towards BRI and China’ s Coping Measures: Multilevel Alignment Based on EU Perceptions and Competences |
| China Foreign Affairs University |
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Abstract EU institutions have exclusive or shared competences in BRI⁃related projects, and thus play an important role in China⁃Europe cooperation on BRI. This paper tries to analyze EU perceptions towards the BRI on the basis of 30 reports or articles by EU institutions and their affiliated think tanks. EU’s overall perceptions are complicated. Specifically, in the economic area, EU institutions attach great importance to BRI⁃related economic opportunities, including trade and investment, but worry about transparency of market rules. Politically, EU perceptions are predominantly characterized by worries about its own solidarity and the decline of its political influence in EU countries. In terms of strategic security, the EU recognizes win⁃win results between Europe and China in energy and non⁃conventional security, but it does worry about BRI’s impact on current international norms and order dominated by western countries. Such perceptions are shaped by EU’s actorness, nature of power and identity in the international system. Considering EU perceptions and competences, China should push forward BRI in Europe through multilevel cooperation, including with EU, EU member countries, local governments and enterprises. Cooperation projects in third markets should also be encouraged and more long⁃term institutionalized educational and cultural cooperation mechanisms be established to promote China⁃Europe Belt and Road cooperation.
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2019, Vol. 27 
