‘China problem’ may be key as nominees vie for top European Commission jobs
The biggest roles are already sewn up, but rumours are swirling about who’s in line to steer trade and competition policies
“Europe has a China problem.”
But in 2024, this might be the kind of rhetoric needed if you want to be handed the keys to the EU’s directorate of trade for the next five years.
“China is challenging us in such a fundamental way that it would be naive to deny that Europe has a China problem. Just read the reports of the Dutch intelligence agencies,” said Wopke Hoekstra, the ex-Dutch foreign minister, in a stump speech for a China-facing portfolio in the next European Commission.
The current climate commissioner went on to blame China for “derailing our economy”, in the sort of language it would be hard to imagine coming from Valdis Dombrovskis, the taciturn Latvian incumbent.
“That is unacceptable. We aim not to sever ties with China. But we will have to restore the balance. Equal rules for both parties, plain and simple. To achieve this, we will no longer just talk, but we also have to act, if competition continues to be unfair,” Hoekstra said.