Overview
This analysis concerns the European Parliament's own-initiative report, procedure 2025/2117(INI), titled "Recommendation for the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on EU-China political relations." The file is ongoing, currently awaiting a committee decision, with an indicative plenary sitting date set for 25 March 2026. The analysis is based on the consolidated summary of amendments to the draft report (AFET-AM-779788_EN) and the provided procedural narrative. The draft report has been entirely superseded, with all original articles deleted, indicating a comprehensive rejection of the initial text. The amendment process reveals a deeply contested strategic approach to China among political groups, with core debates on China's role in Ukraine, economic de-risking, the stance on Taiwan, and human rights.
Legislative timeline
The procedure was initiated with the referral to the committee on 19 June 2025. The committee report was tabled on 22 October 2025, followed by the tabling of committee amendments on 24 November 2025. The current status is awaiting committee decision at first reading. The next key procedural milestone is an indicative plenary sitting date scheduled for 25 March 2026.
Institutional handling
The file is being handled by the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET). On the Commission side, the lead service is the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), under the responsibility of Commissioner Kaja Kallas. The relevant Council configuration is the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC).
Stakeholder reactions
Stakeholder engagement on this file has been extensive, with 151 documented meetings involving 96 distinct organisations. Of these, 120 meetings were with Members of the European Parliament, 25 with Commissioners, and 6 with European Commission staff. The most active organisations in these engagements include the Mission of China to the EU, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, and Mercedes-Benz AG Group. Stakeholder positions, as derived from meeting topics, show divergence on key issues. On trade relations with China, BusinessEurope and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China expressed oppositional views, focusing on challenges for European industry and market access conditions, while Schneider Electric indicated support, emphasizing cooperation and access to critical materials. Regarding the broader topic of EU-China relations, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China showed support for a measured approach, whereas Schneider Electric's position was opposed. On a separate issue of law enforcement cooperation, A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S expressed opposition, raising concerns about infiltration in drug trafficking networks.
Media coverage
Media coverage from the database includes one article from Lithuania. The article reports that Lithuania’s leadership is contending with China-Taiwan tensions while advocating for EU-wide coordination on China policy and a gradual restoration of diplomatic ties.