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Programme 2026

PROGRAMME 2026

Please note that the Chatham House Rule applies to the whole conference and all panels, and the programme may be subject to change.

FRIDAY, June 12th

9:00-9:15 Welcome and Opening Remarks

  • Bart Dessein (Ghent University, Belgium)
  • Victor De Decker (Egmont Institute)

09:15–10:30 Key-Notes Sessions: Two Sides of the Same Coin: EU–China Relations Today

  • Sabine Weyand (TBD), the Directorate-General for Trade, the EU Commission
  • Joseph Liow Chin Yong, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore

10:30-10:45 Coffee break

10:45–12:15 Parallel Sessions I

Session A — China’s Development Path. What Will Be China’s Economic Goals Over the Next 10 Years?
Economic priorities and future trajectories
This session examines China’s evolving development model amid slowing growth, demographic pressures, technological competition, and shifting global economic conditions. It focuses on Beijing’s medium- to long-term economic priorities, including industrial policy, innovation, domestic demand, and state–market relations. The discussion also assesses how China’s future development trajectory may reshape its economic engagement with the European Union and the global economy.

Session B — Domestic Policy and Society in China. What Social Transformations Lie Ahead?
Social goals, governance trends, and internal transformations
This session explores how China’s evolving social landscape—shaped by demographic change, urbanisation, inequality, digital governance, and shifting state–society relations—is influencing domestic stability and policy priorities. It examines governance trends under conditions of economic transition, social control, and reform experimentation, with attention to labour, welfare, and middle-class expectations. The discussion also considers how China’s internal social transformations may affect its engagement with the European Union in economic, political, and regulatory domains.

12:15 – 13:15 Lunch Break

13:15 – 14:30 Plenary Panel — China’s Foreign Policy

New Strategic Concerns and Expanding Areas of Influence
Where EU and China’s interests overlap, compete, or diverge
This plenary panel examines China’s evolving foreign policy priorities amid intensifying geopolitical competition, global governance challenges, and regional conflicts. It focuses on how China’s expanding diplomatic, economic, and security engagement intersects with European interests across areas such as multilateral institutions, strategic regions, and normative governance. The discussion assesses points of convergence, competition, and divergence in EU–China relations, highlighting strategic choices facing European policymakers.

  • Una Bērziņa-Čerenkova (Latvian Institute of International Affairs)
  • Mario Esteban (Elcano Royal Institute)
  • Richard Turcsanyi (Palacky University Olomouc)

14:30-14:45 Coffee break

14:45–16:00 Parallel Sessions II — Regional Perspectives

Session A — China in Africa and the EU Dimension
Competition, Cooperation, and Development Engagement
This session examines China’s expanding economic, political, and development engagement in Africa and its implications for the European Union’s external action. It explores areas of competition and cooperation in trade, infrastructure, development finance, and governance, as well as the evolving role of African agency. The discussion assesses how EU–China interactions in Africa may shape future development models and geopolitical alignments.

  • Raoul Bunskoek (Clingendael)
  • Joshua Eisenman (Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame)
  • Sara Van Hoeymissen (Royal Military Academy, KU Leuven)

Session B — China in the Arctic
Strategic Interests, Governance, and Regional Security
This session focuses on China’s growing involvement in the Arctic region and its implications for regional governance, economic development, and security. It examines China’s interests in shipping routes, resources, research cooperation, and partnerships with Arctic and near-Arctic states, as well as EU strategic concerns. The discussion highlights how Arctic stakeholders perceive China’s role and how EU–China interactions may evolve in this strategically sensitive region.

  • Patrik Andersson (Swedish National China Centre)
  • Camilla Sørensen (China-Nordic Arctic research Centre, University of Copenhagen)
  • Toomas Lukk (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia)

16:00-16:15 Coffee break

16:15 – 17:30 Final Plenary Session — The Future Landscape of EU–China Relations
Scenarios, Risks, and Opportunities
This final plenary synthesises insights from across the conference to assess possible future trajectories of EU–China relations under conditions of strategic uncertainty. It explores key risks, opportunities, and policy trade-offs related to economic security, geopolitical alignment, technological competition, and global governance. The discussion concludes by outlining plausible scenarios for EU–China engagement and the strategic choices facing European decision-makers.

  • Niclas Kvarnström (EU External Action Service)
  • Mikael Mattlin (Finnish Institute of International Affairs)
  • Janka Oertel (European counsil on foreign relations)

17:30 Networking Drinks and Reception

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