European Think-tank Network on China (ETNC)

European Think-tank Network on China (ETNC)

    The European Think-tank Network on China (ETNC) is a gathering of China experts from a selection of European think tanks and research institutions that is devoted to the study of Chinese foreign policy and EU-China relations.

    The network serves to facilitate regular exchanges among participating researchers for the purpose of deepening the understanding of how Europe, as a complex set of actors, relates with China and how developments in China will impact the future of Europe. In particular, when examining the EU-China relationship, the network’s discussions, analyses and recommendations take a decidedly “bottom-up” approach, examining the bilateral relationship between EU member states and China in order to generate a more complex perspective on the broader EU-China relationship.

    ETNC publishes an annual report reviewing the state of Europe-China relations focusing on one specific topic each year. The lead-editor of the report is the rotating coordinator of the network.

    In 2018, I served as coordinator and editor, spearheading a report on the role of political values in Europe-China relations, namely democracy, human right and the rule of law. Apart from report launches in several European capitals, including Brussels, Stockholm, Prague and Paris, the report was presented to the European Commission, the European External Action Service, COASI representatives of the European Council, and in the European Parliament. The US State Department circulated the report as “recommended reading” to all its foreign embassies and consulates.

    In the 2019 report focusing on Europe in the face of US-China rivalry, I have co-authored the chapter on the European Union with Bruno Hellendorff. The 2021 includes my chapter (with Oscar Shao) on Chinese soft power in Sweden.

    Since its inaugural meeting in 2014, ETNC members and participants meet in a different city once every six months.

    The participating institutions are the following:

    • Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy (AIES), Austria

    • Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations, Belgium

    • Institute of International Relations, Czech Republic

    • Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS), Denmark

    • Finnish Institute for International Affairs (FIIA), Finland

    • French Institute of International Relations (Ifri), France

    • Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics), Germany

    • Institute of International Economic Relations, Greece

    • EU-Asia Institute (ESSCA), Hungary

    • Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), Italy

    • Latvian Institute of International Affairs (LIIA), Latvia

    • The Netherlands Institute of International Relations, “Clingendael”, The Netherlands

    • Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Norway

    • Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM), Poland

    • University of Aveiro, Portugal

    • Institute for World Economy of the Romanian Academy (IWE/RA), Romania

    • Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS), Slovakia

    • Elcano Royal Institute, Spain

    • The Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI), Sweden

    • Swiss Forum on Foreign Policy (Foraus), Switzerland

    • Chatham House, United Kingdom

    Related selected publications & media appearances:

    Picture: Man Mo Temple, Sheung Wan district, Hong Kong. Source: Private picture.