EU Ambassadors Conference concludes in Brussels

The annual European Union Ambassadors Conference concludes today in Brussels.The event, which facilitates open exchange between participants and high-level EU speakers, consisted of conversations about future geopolitical challenges that the bloc will likely face, such as mounting trade and security concerns stemming from Beijing’s geopolitical ambition.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen recently announced that an EU-China summit will take place next month in China. Von der Leyen will travel with European Council president Charles Michel for the first face-to-face summit to be held in four years, with either President Xi Jinping or Premier Li Qiang expected to co-chair the event.

Von der Leyen has criticized Beijing’s trade policies, while EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell predicted that a trade war may develop if China keeps refusing to open its market to European firms. Von der Leyen, who will likely secure a second term as commission chief next year, has hailed the EU for mounting trade defense measures, including the Commission’s investigation into state subsidies behind made-in-China electric vehicles. Though the EU recognizes China as an important trading partner in terms of goods, it will likely use the summit to work towards de-risking parts of its relationship with the country as unfair trade practices distort European markets.