Economic imbalance must be addressed with a proper strategy, not countless new initiatives, Bart De Wever warns ahead of EU leaders summit
Europe’s leaders are increasingly wary of China and must urgently develop a serious strategy to ward off Beijing’s economic domination, Bart De Wever, the Belgian prime minister, has warned.
“[Europe] must respond. The only question is how,” said De Wever, speaking at an event organised by two pro-EU think tanks in Brussels on Tuesday.
He said he was disappointed to hear that Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has reportedly launched a fresh gambit to include China in coordination efforts ahead of a G7 meeting next week, where leaders are expected to discuss Beijing’s unfair trading practices.
“That’s all very well, but we do take a lot of initiatives [and] it is time to adopt a strategy,” De Wever said at the event hosted by Friends of Europe and the Jacques Delors Institute. “China does not take a lot of initiatives. These people have a strategy. And a strategy is going to eat our initiatives for breakfast.”
