Read-out of the College orientation debate on EU-China relations*

June 1, 2026 by The Sting's Team Leave a Comment

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

oday’s orientation debate gave the College of Commissioners an opportunity to take stock of EU-China relations — covering both the opportunities they present and the challenges they pose.

The Commission’s overarching approach remains de-risking, not decoupling. China is a critical partner, and engagement and dialogue will continue. At the same time the current state of the trade and investment relationship is not sustainable. As economic and security interests become ever more intertwined, both dimensions will require a more robust and coherent response.

Today’s debate will feed into work in the coming weeks, leading up to further discussions at the G7 and European Council in June.

* Updated on 29 May 2026 at 13:06 CEST.

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