RISKS AND CHALLENGES
6.2.2 EU'S RESPONSE TO BRI
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93 Zhang J., 2016). Nonetheless, as already argued in chapter 4, the biggest challenge to a deep EU-China cooperation for the implementation of OBOR projects is their different political values and identities, which can create obstacles for the policy and regulatory coordination.
6.2.2 EU'S RESPONSE TO BRI
The analysis of potential risks and benefits for the EU in relation to OBOR, brings to the conclusion that it is necessary to highlight that One Belt One Road surely offers unique opportunities, but the two sides need to keep in mind each other's national interests and values, while ensuring a truly win-win initiative (Men, 2015), by facing together the future challenges. The real question is not whether to cooperate with the PRC, but how to do it in the best way. Surely Brussels must not "deprioritize" Beijing, it would be a huge mistake, because it will pursue its objectives anyways, and the EU will "rapidly find herself at the periphery of an economic and diplomatic network designed and realized on the terms of the Middle Country" (Prodi & Gosset, 2016). In particular, the European Union should remember that OBOR is Chinese driven, but it should still cooperate with the other side maybe on a case-by-case basis (interview n° 6, March 2017), engaging especially in those projects that involve the European continent, touch European interests or that Brussels would be able to have a word on or even shape. It is also suggested that while respecting the identity of the other side, the EU should keep promoting its own values, on the basis of mutual respect and understanding. The European participation would make sure that BRI would become a real win-win and beneficial initiative not only for the two ends, but also for all the other countries involved.
After a slow and uncertain response in the beginning of the development of BRI, The EU has already started engaging in OBOR-related projects. The biggest step so far is the Connectivity Platform (CP), established a link to the Chinese initiative with Junker's Plan. This thesis suggests that the CP could be used also to canalize the cultural and people to people dimension of BRI.
However, if the CP is meant to be only focused on infrastructure and investment projects, another
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94 way to institutionalize the OBOR collaboration on cultural, academic and touristic exchanges could be the High Level People-to-People Dialogue (HPPD). This could be the perfect venue for the top level policy makers of both sides, which meet with the very objective of boosting their cultural ties, to find synergies and common goals also in relation to BRI. In this context OBOR could become a truly multilateral initiative, as the Chinese declared it to be. Another idea could be the institution of a Cultural Connectivity Platform, parallel to the HPPD, with similar functions at the CP, to gather all the initiatives focused on cultural, touristic and academic interactions of both sides. This platform could see the participation of the officials from both sides that are in charge of cultural projects of people to people exchanges, such as the Ministry of Culture for China and the European Commission Directorate General for Education and Culture for the EU, but also other private or public cultural institutions, universities or companies. Institutionalizing the people to people exchanges represents a further chance for the policy makers to work on a collaboration on visa and migration policies and procedures. The benefits of the establishment of a new Platform would also be ensuring a common and coordinated approach on the European level, as well as the creation of new job opportunities for the youth of both partners, thus fulfilling one of the main goals of the EU as well as BRI. Furthermore, it is suggested that the partners will create a "Silk Road Railway", similar to the Trans-Siberian Railway, that follows the routes of the trains of the Economic Belt, in order to promote EU-China tourism by attracting more and more people from both sides to travel through the sites of the old Silk Road and reviving the experiences of the merchants of the past. On the train, the tourists will have the chance to learn more about BRI but also about the culture of the countries that they pass through. The Silk Road Railway could be a different and original way to promote each side's culture, as well as the long-lasting friendship between the European and Chinese people, by arousing the curiosity and imaginary of adventurous travelers. This project will be useful to boost not only EU-China tourist and cultural relations, but also the tourist promotion of the other countries crossed by the railway, thus helping their economic development.
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95 The European proactive involvement is fundamental to all the parties concerned by the initiative, because it will contribute with its best practices, know-how and skilled researchers and labor. This would bring great benefits not only to China and the EU's neighbors, but also to all the other Asian and African countries participating or interested in BRI. Brussels should focus on long-term priorities: by helping the creation of a safe, balanced, fair environment in Eurasian and African regions, it would support the stabilization of those dangerous regions crossed by the Belt and Road corridors. In addition it would guarantee the respect of sustainable practices as well as of international norms, rule of law and human rights. In order to make it a truly multilateral initiative, China and the EU should develop the discussion regarding the implementation of OBOR in the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), an inter-regional cooperative forum joined by several nations involved in the BRI project. This would be able to help BRI become not only a
"mere project of hard connectivity", namely trade, investments and infrastructures, "but a broader multicultural and multilateral project of development, including social and cultural issues" (Picciau, 2016). On the other hand, from the bilateral point of view, the cooperation on BRI issues might make it easier for Beijing and Brussels to reach a deal for the Bilateral Investment Agreement. Also tourists' exchanges between the two sides could be more valued and institutionalized, for example through the HPPD or through the Cultural Connectivity Platform proposed by this thesis. Finally, as mentioned previously, in the long term, the EU should attach more importance to its partnership with the PRC, especially in this unstable and unpredictable international situation: one of EU's biggest member states, the UK, is about to leave the Union, the EU relations with Russia continue to be strained, and Brussels' relations with Washington have become less friendly and close since the election of the new President. Therefore EU could consider China as a more important partner, BRI could be the bridge to a new partnership that has been treated only as a secondary one so far.
In only 3 years and a half from its launch, OBOR has become one of the most discussed and controversial topics among scholars and politicians around the world, and China has received contrasting responses and critiques. This thesis does not want to be a critique to the Chinese
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96 initiative, but it wants to keep a neutral point of view and focus mostly on the European position.
Nonetheless, it seems fair to provide some advice also to the PRC, based on the content and interview analysis carried out by this research. Beijing is suggested to provide more practical information and precise data about the initiative and its future development, as well as a more definite road map of the network of corridors and hubs. This would be very helpful for those actors that are interested but still uncertain on whether to join, it would provide a better understanding for the foreign public and reduce the critics about lack of transparency and reliability. The second important advice this thesis provides to Beijing is about reciprocity and fair competition: it appears to be a lack of reciprocity from the Chinese side in different areas, therefore it is suggested that Beijing learns from its mistakes to improve and make the initiative as multilateral as possible. In particular, firstly China should ensure European companies the same degree of access to the Chinese market as the Chinese companies are granted in Europe (Pavlićević, 2015), and the same goes for the European investments that should be equitably welcomed in the PRC (Schweisgut, 2016b); secondly it should "allow local economic actors to access the bids for infrastructure projects" (Arduino, 2016:3); thirdly there should be more openness and support for the organization of cultural activities in China by European organizations and institutions (Zhang L., 2014;
interviews n° 2 and 3, February 2017); fourthly China should also allow European scholars and researchers to join Chinese conferences and research projects with more openness and freedom, being able to adopt a neutral and critical thinking (interview n°5, April 2017).
In conclusion, BRI is undoubtedly an impressive initiative and the European Union should be involved in it actively, to promote the best outcome for all parties involved. China and the EU should learn from each other's experiences and put together their resources to create a truly win-win and multilateral framework. The fear of the clash of identities and different political values should not be considered as an obstacle, but as an advantage, an occasion of learning new perspectives and create a diverse but united Eurasia.
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97 7. CONCLUSION
In a world of global challenges, namely global warming, terrorism, North Korea's threat of a chemical war, and Trumps' unpredictable presidency, China's rise and its huge foreign policy initiative remain one of the most controversial topics among scholars and experts of international politics and international relations. Some view it as the first step of a plan to establish hegemony, some consider it as demonstration that Beijing is ready to take more responsibilities in the international system. According to Chinese media and official reports, BRI is a peaceful initiative aimed at creating stronger links between the countries in the Eurasian continent as well as in Africa and, in the future, Latin America. Using the model of the ancient Silk Road, BRI hopes to create a network of infrastructure, investments, policies and cultural interactions. The final destination of this network is Europe: China is not only attracted by the Old Continent for its rich market, but it also aims at improving the opinion Europeans have of the Middle Country with a complex structure of public and cultural diplomacy. Since the launch of OBOR in 2013, the PRC has been actively promoting the initiative in Europe pushing for the engagement of the EU. Especially in the beginning, the EU responded in a slow and unclear way, lacking a common approach: some member states were eager to participate in the initiative and acted independently giving priority to their national interests; whereas other countries responded in an uninterested or even skeptical way.
Some of the reasons for the skeptical responses were distrust in the PRC government and the fear of China's rise, as well as the perceived differences in political values and economic competition as the insurmountable obstacles to cooperation.
This thesis purports to demonstrate that the real obstacles to a deeper EU-China partnership are not the material factors of competition, but the differences in identities, values and cultures between the two sides, and that the best way to overcome them is by strengthening the cultural and people to people ties. On these basis the thesis also intends to show how the Belt and Road Initiative can play a valuable role in facilitating the people to people as well as the high level interactions thus enhancing mutual understanding and trust. This research applies the theories of
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98 constructivism to support its assumptions, provide policy suggestions to both sides involved and offer a picture of the potential future development of the EU-China relations in the case that the two partners decide to collaborate and invest in their people to people exchanges. In order to achieve this ambitious objective, the thesis answers four research questions: "what are the obstacles to a deeper EU-China partnership, how to overcome them and improve the overall relations?", "which role does BRI play in the China-EU cultural relations?", "what are the risks and benefits that BRI will bring to the EU?", and thus "how should the European Union respond to BRI?". The questions need to be answered in a logical order, because the answers of each of them influence the response of the others, especially of the last one.
According to the constructivist theories, when studying international relations it is necessary to focus not only on material factors, such as politics and economics, but also on the non-material factors: identities, culture, values and interests, which are the main causes of the change in the actors' behavior. This theory seems particularly true for the EU-China relations: two actors that have completely different cultures, values, political systems, interests, norms and regulations, it could seem impossible for them to negotiate and cooperate successfully. Nonetheless, as demonstrated by constructivist scholars, identities are relational, which means that they are shaped during the relations and interchanges with the other side, these also influence the opinions actors have of each other. Currently, because of the perceived insurmountable cultural differences, as well as because of incorrect or poor information, Chinese and Europeans do not have very positive perceptions of each other. Discriminations and negative stereotypes are still very common, provoking distrust and suspicion, especially from the European side, which eventually obstruct dialogue and cooperation. This thesis demonstrates that, thanks to more frequent and closer people to people relations the two sides will have the chance to learn about each other through dialogue, destroying stereotypes through common experiences and therefore gain mutual understanding and trust resulting in improved reciprocal perceptions. This can be demonstrated by all the events and projects of cultural diplomacy that have been carried out by Brussels and Beijing, which have led to
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99 enhanced dialogue and bilateral cultural relations, the High Level People-to-People Dialogue can be considered as a milestone of this process. Finally, in the long run, thanks to the amelioration of cultural relations and increased mutual trust, general relations will also flourish.
The reader could wonder how BRI, being an initiative based on infrastructure and investment projects, could impact the cultural interactions. What is particularly interesting about the initiative is that it is comprehensive of different fields, aiming not only at creating trade connectivity, but also policy and people to people connectivities. Therefore it is evident that it holds the potential to influence the cultural relations of the countries involved, by providing incentives and a new framework of cooperation. Under the BRI-branding numerous activities have been implemented to promote exchanges of students, researchers, scholars of various fields. OBOR creates also a network of corridors and hubs around Eurasia that will facilitate tourist flows. These are only some of the ways in which the Chinese initiative will promote people to people ties and facilitate the dialogue between the PRC and the EU. It is not only a "repackaging" of the many initiatives and projects that China has already been carrying out before. On the contrary, by reviving the exotic imaginary of the Silk Road as a place of peaceful exchanges of merchandise, cultures, religions, BRI has the potential to attract and involve more and more people in the projects and events that are under its umbrella. The outcome depends on the way the EU responds, on how China presents and manages it, and on whether both sides will manage to keep alive the friendly cooperative spirit that is part of the Silk Road tradition.
An analysis of benefits and risks is required to assess the initiative from the European point of view and to have the necessary information to decide whether the EU should engage in it and then to provide useful policy advices to European leaders. To sum up what has been discussed in the section 6.2 of chapter 6, as for any kind of initiative or project there exists some challenges as well as advantages, but since Beijing showed to be motivated and confident to advance even alone in the development of BRI, the EU should seize the opportunity to collaborate with the emerging power by optimizing the benefits gained and facing and preventing the possible risks. The European
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100 Union has already demonstrated a willingness to cooperate with its "strategic partner", as declared by its leaders in various speeches: in 2015 Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission declared that "we also want to build bridges between Europe and China by expanding people-to-people exchanges" ("Special Message" in Islam & Kabir, 2015); whereas in July 2016 at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing the EU High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini announced:
"Only cooperation makes us stronger, the both of us. [..]. This is the European way of foreign policy. Investing in partnerships, cooperation, in trying to find common ground for win-win solutions whenever it is possible, in the framework of international rules and international norms, and in full respect of international norms and rules. For us in the European Union it is vital to build cooperation on the world scene. Now I know that there are people in the world who have concerns about a more confident and outward-looking China. I am not among those; I am not worried about China’s rise. Because I am convinced that China’s greater engagement in world affairs and regional affairs can open many opportunities on many issues of common interest, also for us Europeans."
(Mogherini, 2016)
This thesis provides various suggestions to the EU on how to deal with OBOR, in particular it proposes to integrate the cultural dimension of the OBOR dialogue in either the Connectivity Platform, or in the HPPD, or to create a new platform titled Cultural Connectivity Forum dedicated to the people to people and cultural exchanges that are related to BRI. The European leaders should also focus on future implications, and by cooperating with China in the implementation of the New Silk Roads it would be able to make sure that it respects market rules, international norms, environmental sustainable practices, human rights and that it will be a truly multilateral and win-win initiative for all the countries involved. The engagement of Europe in BRI could increase the
This thesis provides various suggestions to the EU on how to deal with OBOR, in particular it proposes to integrate the cultural dimension of the OBOR dialogue in either the Connectivity Platform, or in the HPPD, or to create a new platform titled Cultural Connectivity Forum dedicated to the people to people and cultural exchanges that are related to BRI. The European leaders should also focus on future implications, and by cooperating with China in the implementation of the New Silk Roads it would be able to make sure that it respects market rules, international norms, environmental sustainable practices, human rights and that it will be a truly multilateral and win-win initiative for all the countries involved. The engagement of Europe in BRI could increase the