A Europe to be clear on its vital interests

about 3 of European exports go to China, when China directs almost 20 of its products to the European Union, its first client. EU invests every year more than twice in Switzerland in China. Even if these figures are expected to grow, this highlights well how much China has at least as much need of Europe as the Continent of China.

And it is the key issue of the European Union-China Summit held in Brussels on Wednesday. This Summit took place at a crucial moment in the emergence of China in the economic, diplomatic and geopolitical scene world. "G2" US-China through a crisis with the recent vote in Congress and protectionist clouds accumulating. The relations of China and the Japan experienced a brutal "maritime refresh." International groups have emerged from a long Moon of honey with the Middle Kingdom and speculate on the real profitability of their heavy financial and technological investments.

Yet it is precisely now that Europe has seen China's many assets. From the idea very widespread, and internalized by many Europeans, a continent which would have lost its influence in the world, or the hope of benefit economic and social emergence Chinese. At a time where the United States lose their absolute leadership and China feels not ready to take on his own, is a unique opportunity to reaffirm its "soft power". The "European strategic vision" regarding China remains to define, and especially to be heard in a clear and audible manner. It is that time.

The Member States, and the largest first, are the big losers of this lack of shared vision to China, which promotes the consistency and predictability of the messages, the coherence of the different channels and, dare I say, the assessment of the balance of power in the presence. The solitary or dissonant policies, the image of protectionist measures, are detrimental to their authors term. In the European institutions, it is essential to push for yet more coordination, the relationship with China is today divided between at least six Commissioners.

On the message itself, Europe too long sinned by a sentimental or naive approach. Need to debunk the this old wisdom that one cannot tell the truth to our Chinese interlocutors. On the contrary, this policy is detrimental to the credibility of the entire European policy. Must be a Europe-China more adult, less volatile relationship or marked by point fâcheries. These fever outbreaks are a direct result of a strategic dialogue insufficiently debated with the economic, intellectual and social actors in Paris, London, Berlin or Athens. More differences in values, it is appropriate to take, it is the inconsistency of the message which penalises Europe.

The condition of the adult relationship is a clear vision on the objectives that pursues the Union in China. In the current context of transformation of the Chinese economic model, Europe holds all the keys: a primary and secondary educational system imperfect but continues to give the essential to the younger generations bases. A social security system weakened but essential to a real collective well-being. A technological and industrial base remained dense in strategic sectors for China: transport, energy, environmental technologies, food safety, health. It is innovation in these sectors needed China to move to an economy generating more value and less dependent on a workforce to be enriching to create a basis for domestic consumption. A Europe to be clear on its vital interests.