Madariaga - College of Europe Foundation

23 February 2012, Brussels

Cross investment is key to fruitful cooperation with China as it has proved decisive in building up the Atlantic economic and trade relationship. EU firms need competitive labour resources from China and full access to the huge and expanding Chinese market. Chinese business is looking for technology and to consolidate its distribution network and infrastructures across the EU. Therefore, promoting two-way investements between the EU and China is a priority. But there are many obstacles: on the Chinese side, national treatment between foreign and domestic firms must be reconciled  with the Chinese concern to pursue an industrial strategy aimed at climbing up the technology and value added ladder. On the EU side, things are complicated by the division of labour between Member States and the EU with regard to investment promotion and protection. The Lisbon Treaty clarifies legal matters, but the EU still has to prove what walue added it brings to the process. So the question arises: what sort of EU-China investment treaty do we need?

A Debate with Mauro Petriccione, Director for the Development and Management of Trade Relations with Neighbourhood Countries and with South-East Asia, DG Trade, European Commission, and Zhang Haiyan, Academic Director, Euro-China Centre, Antwerp Management School.

The debate was moderated by Pierre Defraigne, Executive Director of the Madariaga - College of Europe Foundation.

On Thursday 23 February 2012, between 17:00 and 18:30 at the Madariaga - College of Europe Foundation: 14, avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée - 1040 Brussels.