Breton Speaks On De-Risking As China-EU Summit Mooted

(MNI) London - European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton had delivered an addressto the EU Chamber of Commerce to China in Beijing regarding EU-China relations. Breton on de-risking: "The de-risking approach is not politically motivated or protectionist. It follows the same rationale that China or the US have been pursuing for years: increase the resilience of the economy and boost industrial and technological competitiveness."

• Breton: "Let me be straightforward: Whenever the security interests of Europe will be at stake, Europe will not hesitate to act on its own. Europe will be an actor of its own security, and not a mere follower of the decision of others. Because we are clear: De-risking does not mean decoupling. Decoupling our economic ties is neither a viable nor a desirable option."
• Breton:"It is not abnormal for the EU and China to act differently upon each other respective security interests. This does not mean we need to be conflictual."
• Breton's speech comes on the heels of a Bloomberg articleon 9 Nov claiming that the first in-person EU-China summit in four years will take place on 7-8 Dec. BBG: "One the most significant topics of conversation is likely to be the EU’s ongoing anti-subsidies investigation into electric vehicles made in China. The bloc has also been asking Beijing to help solve several issues, such as allowing companies operating in the Asian nation to transfer data out of the country."