On 29 May 2026, the European Commission held an orientation debate on EU-China relations, with conclusions to guide its work in the coming weeks and prepare for G7 and European Council discussions in June. The debate, chaired by President Ursula von der Leyen, took place at the Berlaymont building in Brussels from 9.04 to 12.23, with 17 Commissioners present and 9 absent.
The session opened with a presentation by Mr Alfred Schipke, Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and Director of the East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore. Commissioners then exchanged views on the opportunities and challenges of relations with China, focusing on EU commercial, economic, and security interests. The conclusions drawn from the debate will inform the Commission's preparatory work for the G7 summit and the European Council meeting scheduled for June.
No prior coverage of this specific meeting exists in the available record. The debate reflects the Commission's ongoing efforts to calibrate its approach to China, balancing economic engagement with strategic concerns. The outcome is expected to feed into broader EU discussions on trade, technology, and geopolitical alignment with key partners.