POLICY SUGGESTIONS

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86 China's instrument to achieve this ambitious objective. Indeed, "by reviving the idea of the silk roads, on both land and sea", OBOR "gives vitality to histories of transnational, even transcontinental, trade and people-people encounters as a shared heritage" (Winter, 2016). The Silk Road holds a positive image in the minds of people around Eurasia, for being the symbol of peaceful trade and harmonious cultural and religious exchanges (Winter, 2016). Undeniably, along the ancient Silk Road "cultural interaction was a vital aspect of material exchange", merchants had to understand their trading partners' cultures and languages in order to be able to negotiate smoothly and profitably (UNESCO). Following these ideas, OBOR has the potential to act as the cultural bridge between the European and Chinese civilizations.

Finally, the narrative of the Silk Road's spirit of "peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit" (PR Newswire, 2016) provides the EU with an appealing branding to use for the enhancement of cultural and people to people relations with China, but also with the other countries along BRI. Beijing's initiative has a clear impact on the cultural as well as tourist exchanges between the old continent and the middle country. Mr. Ujhelyi also agrees with this position: "OBOR represents a great opportunity in this regard¹⁷, as it provides the framework for effective connection of Chinese and European initiatives" (Teo & Stec, 2016:2).

6.2 POLICY SUGGESTIONS

The previous section argued that the Belt and Road Initiative represents a unique occasion for China and the EU to improve their cultural and people to people ties, which, thanks to the trust and mutual understanding created, will lead to stronger political and economic relations on the long run. Therefore Brussels should definitely seize the opportunity and engage in the cooperation with China in the framework of BRI, by responding in a confident and unified way.

The second section of this chapter focuses on the general aspects, not only on the cultural dimension, of BRI in order to provide an analysis of both the risks and benefits, and therefore to

17 During his speech, while talking about the benefits of BRI for the EU, Mr. Ujhelyi focused on the tourist dimension and stated that "China could play a constructive role in the development of the European tourism industry" (Teo & Stec, 2016).

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87 give some policy advice to the European policy makers and politicians on how to respond and deal with the New Silk Roads, creating a win-win situation for all the countries involved in the initiative.

6.2.1 RISKS AND BENEFITS FOR THE EU

Before giving useful advice it is necessary to analyze the risks and challenges that Brussels will have to face while cooperating with Beijing, as well as the benefits that this cooperation will bring to the European Union. Since this thesis focuses on the European perspective, this section will analyze the advantages and disadvantages of BRI for the EU and for both sides together.

BENEFITS

The cooperation between China and Europe has already been developing through various mechanisms on different fields, but in 2015 the two big powers decided to collaborate within the framework of OBOR by establishing the Connectivity Platform (CP), as already explained in the second chapter. The cooperation based on this platform will certainly bring both parties enormous rewards (Islam, 2015), which can be classified in three main categories: trade and investments, political cooperation, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

The economic impact is probably the most remarkable one in the short term, because OBOR and the Connectivity Platform will most likely open multiple markets in Eurasian and African countries as well as in China, thus generating innumerable opportunities for European companies (Escobar, 2014; Cameron, 2015; Loesekrug-Pietri & Schaefer & Wei, 2015), increasing the EU-China bilateral trade, creating new business opportunities and enhancing employment (Islam, 2015;

Islam & Kabir, 2015; European Parliament, 2016). Moreover, BRI will undoubtedly bring

"diversification of energy supplies" (Loesekrug-Pietri & Schaefer & Wei, 2016), "economic growth to business and nations" (Lehmacher & Padilla-Taylor, 2015). Consequently, the EU will gain "new markets and energy security" (European Parliament, 2016). Furthermore, thanks to the transportation and infrastructure projects within the OBOR and the Connectivity Platform, which are aimed at reducing shipping time and costs, the EU-China trade will most likely expand (Escobar,

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88 2014; Esteban & Otero-Iglesias, 2015; Islam, 2015; European Parliament, 2016). In particular, not only does the Belt provides European company with more stable prices and with an efficient mechanism to import their goods produced in China (Arduino, 2014), but it represents a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly way of transport: it contributes to the "reduction in CO2 emissions" with its lower carbon footprint (Arduino, 2016:12).

The 21^st Century Maritime Silk Road will be likely to create better sea connections by avoiding the risky Malacca Strait (Cameron, 2015). Better infrastructures and transport routes, as well as flourishing trade, will be appealing especially for the CEE countries, for historical and geographical reasons. (Islam & Kabir, 2015; European Parliament, 2016; interview n°1, February 2017; interview n°2 and n°3, February 2017). On the other hand, these cooperation opportunities will certainly encourage further negotiations for the EU bilateral investment treaty (Islam, 2015).

The Connectivity Platform provides safe and institutionalized framework for Chinese investments to the EU, and especially for the European Fund of Strategic Investment (EFSI), which, alike OBOR, focuses on the energy, infrastructure, innovation, digital and transport sectors (Islam, 2015).

Through the CP and the engagement in BRI, the EU can make sure that the investments from the PRC are employed in an efficient and transparent way (Cameron, 2015).

Political benefits will accrue from the regional stability that we be achieved as a result of growth and deep economic ties (Islam, 2015; Johnson, 2015; Loesekrug-Pietri & Schaefer & Wei, 2015; Verlare & van der Putten, 2015; Grieger, 2016). In addition, OBOR and the CP will potentially act as a basis for further initiatives to bolster closer cooperation between Beijing and Brussels with "more regular political relations" (interview n°1, February 2017), as well as creating new sectoral dialogues (Cameron, 2015; Islam, 2015; Islam & Kabir, 2015; Yan, 2015; Haggai, 2016). Another positive outcome will be the new opportunity for the EU and China to coordinate their policies to bring peace and growth in the African continent (Prodi & Gosset, 2016).

Furthermore, the maritime routes will provide closer links between the European Union and the South-East Asian countries, in a way that the former will be able to adopt a "more outspoken

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89 position" about the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, promoting peaceful negotiations and the respect of international law (European Parliament, 2016). Finally, in the light of recent global geo-political developments, Brussels may be tempted to push further its partnership with Beijing, reinforcing cooperation specifically in trade, climate issues, and other priority areas (interview n°3, February 2017). Indeed, it is arguable that it could be beneficial for Brussels to explore new friendships, and especially improve the existing partnership with China, and perhaps become less dependent on Washington, especially in view of the recent European politicians' disagreement with Trump's policy and the abating EU-US relations

People-to-people exchange being one of the main goals of OBOR, it has already been discussed how the closer links, generated by the Chinese initiative will bring positive outcomes for the EU-China bilateral cultural relations. Increasingly more scientific, touristic, academic and cultural exchanges will be undertaken along the routes of the New Silk Road, creating deeper mutual curiosity and understanding (Cameron, 2015; Esteban & Otero-Iglesias, 2015; Johnson, 2015).

It is important to highlight that the BRI, and China itself, will also gain huge benefits from the European engagement in the mechanism, not only thanks to its rich market, but also given the EU's standards "expertise" (Zhang K., 2015), and best practices, namely the Joint Plan of Action for Central Asia under the UN Global Counter-terrorism Strategy; the Advancement of EU border and counter-drug addiction programme; the Border Management in Central Asia (BOMCA); the Border Management in Northern Afghanistan (BOMNAF); the Central Asia Drug Action Program (CADAP); and the Prevention of CBRN materials proliferation. Beijing could also collaborate with the EU to provide "financial assistance to promote better education and human resources training, better living conditions in rural areas and better health-care services in Central Asia", "a region of increasing economic and strategic importance" to both (Arduino, 2016:5). In general, China will not be able to rule such a huge initiative and tackle the numerous challenges on its own, therefore EU cooperation is of fundamental importance to Beijing. On the other hand, by engaging in projects

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90 within the framework of OBOR, the European Union will be able to utilize its own influence to control the development of the initiative from within, and make sure that the PTC is respecting the international labor and environmental standards, enhancing growth and sustainability, and not conducting a hegemonic strategy.