Policy Workshop “Standards, Narratives and Partnerships: Rethinking EU and China’s Approaches to Connectivity”

26 Jan 2026 12:00-14:30
A row of European Union flags (blue with yellow stars) and Chinese flags (red with yellow stars) waving side by side during the 2020 EU–China summit. China
China, the US and the new world order
Organization Egmont Institute and the Elcano Royal Institute.
Posted on 28 Jan 2026 //

Monday, 26 January 2026, from 12:00 to 14:30h (CET). Venue: online and at the Egmont Institute (Rue des Petits Carmes 24 A, 1000 Brussels).

This policy workshop featured a research carried out under the ReConnect China Project, which brings together experts and scholars to examine how Europe can engage with China.

The event addressed China’s approach to connectivity and its implications for Europe, across several dimensions, including technical standards, strategic narratives and the impact of China’s connectivity projects in Africa and Central Asia. Together, these highlighted the challenges Europe faces in reconciling cooperation and competition in its engagement with China and put forward practical recommendations for policymakers.

The panel was chaired by Victor De Decker (Egmont Institute) and brought together Mario Esteban (Elcano Royal Institute), Aurelio Insisa (IAI), Kara Němečková (CEIAS), and John Seaman (IFRI) to discuss the project’s policy outputs on connectivity.

Participants

  • Mario Esteban, Senior Fellow, Elcano Royal Institute.
  • Victor de Decker, Research Fellow, Egmont Institute.
  • Aurelio Insisa, Senior Research Fellow, Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI).
  • John Seaman, Research Fellow, Institut Français des Relations Internationales (IFRI).
  • Kara Němečková, Research Fellow, Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS).

See also the following publications presented at the workshop:

Policy briefs:
Tactical synergy with China’s BRI can safely improve EU-Central Asia connectivity. Sense Hofstede (ReConnect China Policy Brief 28.
Geopolitical Narratives Are Counterproductive: The EU Global Gateway Faces the Belt and Road Initiative. Mario Esteban, Aurelio Insisa.
Technical Standards, Soft Connectivity and China’s Belt and Road: Towards greater convergence or fragmentation?​ John Seaman.
Evolving patterns of China’s involvement in African infrastructure. Richard Turcsanyi, Kara Nemeckova, Veronika Blablova.

Research Paper: China’s BRI and EU Global Gateway Experiences with Public-Private Partnerships for Infrastructure Projects in Africa: Assessing Impact and Significance. Aurelio Insisa (IAI).

Photogallery

Screenshot of the online session: Policy Workshop “Standards, Narratives and Partnerships: Rethinking EU and China’s Approaches to Connectivity”.
Screenshot of the online session: Policy Workshop “Standards, Narratives and Partnerships: Rethinking EU and China’s Approaches to Connectivity”.
ReConnect China project logo.
Egmont and the Elcano Royal Institute 25th anniversary.
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