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European Council

The European Council: A prominent Brussels-based supranational intergovernmental body, the European Council defines the European Union’s overall political direction and priorities. Comprising EU heads of state or government, its President, and the European Commission President, it represents the highest level of political cooperation. Its main activities include setting the EU’s political agenda, addressing complex issues, and shaping common foreign and security policy. Recognised as a strategic, crisis-solving institution, it provides crucial impetus for European integration and appoints key EU officials.

European Council

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | EU and China need a grand bargain to avoid a trade war

A mutually beneficial pact must acknowledge a new economic reality and more fully tap the potential for two-way investment.

Opinion | Europe was happy with the trade rules – until China’s industrial rise

China rejects trade criticism after Merz backs global yuan action

My Take | The end of history has come and gone for Europe

EU bureaucrats thought they had left power politics behind. Now it is coming back to bite them.

Germany backs EU’s tough China line with call for ‘Plaza Accord’ talks on yuan

European Commission on a mission to craft tools to tackle what the bloc sees as China’s industrial excesses.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Video | European Union and China in for period of tension

Leaders from the 27 European Union member states have met in Brussels to counter Beijing’s growing economic influence.

G7 rare earths, US-Iran peace deal, Summer Davos

EU hits ‘make-or-break moment’ as divided leaders confront ‘China shock 2.0’

EU member states poised to confront internal divisions and launch aggressive trade defences against systemic threat posed by Beijing.

EU nations ready to battle ‘China Shock 2.0’ with tough new strategy

Broad coalition of EU members support new trade strategy to prevent China causing European deindustrialisation as key Brussels summit looms.

Alibaba Cloud expands in France amid Europe’s data sovereignty push

Opening of Paris hub is a response to increased demand, says the China tech giant as it looks to roll out agentic AI services across Europe.

EU bows to Trump pressure on tariffs but warns of future chaos

Trump has threatened ‘much higher’ levies if the EU does not remove import duties on US industrial goods by July 4.

Trump urges Russia to make deal with Ukraine after meeting Zelensky at G7

US president says ‘gonna do whatever I can’ as Europe presses Trump for more support.

‘It’s absurd’: how the EU’s new carbon tariff is causing havoc in China

The system is creating huge new compliance burdens for China’s steel firms, with smaller producers using greener technology often hit hardest.

EU says China trained Russian troops as bloc weighs tougher stance on Beijing

Kallas cites verified reports of Chinese training for Russian forces as Brussels weighs sanctions and new trade measures.

Europe is blaming China’s economic rise for its own failures, think tank says

It comes as Beijing reportedly cancelled two meetings with the EU this month, and as the bloc prepares for key talks on China policy.

Have trade tensions scuppered EU-China talks ahead of tough Brussels decisions?

June 23 meeting in Beijing postponed without warning as bilateral ties deteriorate on a near-daily basis.

Opinion | EU threat of trade war against China is a strategic farce

The EU is mistaken in believing it still has economic leverage. A trade war will not save an economy in decline.

Dan Flavin’s luminous legacy shines in Hong Kong’s first solo exhibition

The American artist’s minimalist light grids debut in Hong Kong, showcasing Flavin’s pioneering use of fluorescent lamps.

China debate reaches fever pitch in Brussels as EU’s crunch fortnight kicks off

Ahead of next week’s leaders’ summit, some are pushing for the bloc to end its ‘naivety’ and forcefully counter cheap imports.

Armenia sets course towards West as Pashinyan secures election win

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan gets a third consecutive term following a general election.

EU, China hold talks as trade war looms

China trade envoy Li Chenggang is to meet EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic to set up a platform for discussing trade and investment as Europe considers a tougher approach to stem a flood of low-cost Chinese imports.

Exclusive | EU and China set for Paris talks this week as trade war fears mount

Bloc puts ‘carrot-and-stick’ approach to test in high-stakes meeting with Beijing’s international trade envoy on sidelines of OECD meeting.

Putin in Beijing, ‘China shock’ in EU: 7 global relations reads

From ‘miscalculation’ by the Dutch navy to China on Iran mediation, here are highlights from the SCMP’s overseas correspondents in May 2026.

As EU mulls trade tools, China vows to take steps against any new restrictions

While warning of retaliation against ‘new trade instruments’, Beijing says China-EU communication channels remain open.

Brussels agrees on tougher China trade policy, as Beijing vows retaliation

Trade chief details why bloc needs to take stronger steps to defend itself from what is described as a new ‘China shock’ to its industries.

EU’s 6 biggest economies agree on capital markets supervision

It is part ‌of a bid to boost EU’s competitiveness as it struggles with weak growth and fierce competition from the US and China.

Nato and Romania accuse Russia after drone hits block of flats

Drone strikes a 10-storey building in Galati, causing an explosion and civilian injuries in an apparent spillover of the Ukraine conflict.

JD.com’s US$2.6 billion bid for Germany’s Ceconomy faces deeper EU scrutiny

European Commission launches in-depth investigation under Foreign Subsidies Regulation in latest instance of Brussels-Beijing tensions.

Opinion | EU and China need a grand bargain to avoid a trade war

Video | European Union and China in for period of tension