In a written answer on 1 July 2026, European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič defended the EU's de-risking approach toward China while reminding Member States that bilateral economic cooperation must respect EU law and the bloc's Economic Security Strategy. The response, addressed to MEPs Jorge Martín Frías, Hermann Tertsch, and Jorge Buxadé Villalba from the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, comes after the Spanish government signed three memoranda of understanding with China during Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's recent visit to Beijing, raising concerns over strategic dependencies in ports, energy, and technology.
Šefčovič reiterated the European Council conclusions of 30 June 2023, which called for reducing critical dependencies and pursuing de-risking, not decoupling, in relations with China. He listed EU measures adopted since then to strengthen economic resilience: the EU Economic Security Strategy, strengthened trade defence and anti-coercion instruments, the Foreign Subsidies Regulation, the Critical Raw Materials Act, and the Net-Zero Industry Act. The Commission is also advancing trade agreements with partners such as Mercosur, Mexico, Chile, New Zealand, India, Indonesia, and countries in the Indo-Pacific and Africa.
The answer contains no concrete proposals or deadlines, instead offering a general commitment to monitor developments and work with Member States. The policy orientation reaffirms the EU's existing line: preserving open trade while addressing risks from strategic dependencies, without directly criticising Spain's bilateral deals. Institutional follow-up is likely to involve continued monitoring and possible further coordination with Member States on economic security, though no specific timeline was given.
Spanish and EU businesses in strategic sectors (ports, energy, tech) face continued scrutiny over Chinese investments; EU institutions gain a reaffirmed mandate to coordinate de-risking; the Spanish government retains flexibility to pursue bilateral deals but must align with EU frameworks; Chinese state-owned enterprises may face increased regulatory barriers under EU instruments like the Foreign Subsidies Regulation.