Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001172/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Mariusz Kamiński (ECR)
China’s economic expansion, particularly in Africa, is a strategic challenge. Chinese companies are active stakeholders in 78 ports in 32 African countries, acting as builders, investors and operators.
However, many Chinese investments lead to over-indebtedness and financial dependence of African countries on Beijing. Experts warn that Chinese companies are being awarded contracts thanks to corruption and government support, and implementing them with minimal involvement of local communities, most of the work being done by Chinese workers using Chinese materials. In addition, the speed of project implementation is coming at the expense of quality. At the same time, China is exploiting African natural resources on a massive scale, leaving no substantial benefits for the local economies. All this while African countries are encouraged to embrace China’s development model and support Beijing on the international stage.
Europe’s response to China’s Belt and Road Initiative was to be the Global Gateway project, which would provide an alternative in the form of transparent and sustainable investments.
China’s expansion in Africa and Latin America was extensively discussed at the latest meeting of the Delegation for Relations with China. However, the experts were unable to answer the following question, which I refer to the Commission:
- 1.Is it true that contractors for Global Gateway investments include Chinese companies?
- 2.Given the arguments set out above, does the Commission not consider that Chinese companies which engage in corrupt practices and which benefit from unfair government support should be excluded from tenders funded by European taxpayers?
Submitted: 19.3.2025