Commission President’s visit to China

Subject: Commission President’s visit to China

On 6 April 2023, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited the President of the Communist People’s Republic of China in the company of French President Macron.

During this visit, the Commission President profiled herself as a head of state by, among other things, addressing the relationship between China and the EU. However, the EU is more than just the Commission; it consists primarily of Member States, which are responsible for foreign affairs.

The President of the Commission clearly adopts a presidential style but without much democratic legitimacy and, in this regard, not infrequently competes with the President of the European Council, with powers being usurped in the process.

1. With what mandate did the Commission President travel to China?

2. Did the Commission President discuss the agenda of her visit to China with the European Council in advance?

3. Does the President of the Commission intend to take charge of the Union’s foreign relations on her own, without consulting or seeking a mandate from the European Council?

Submitted: 19.4.2023

Answer given by President von der Leyen

on behalf of the European Commission


Under Article 17 of the Treaty on European Union1, the Commission is specifically entrusted with ensuring the external representation of the EU (with the exception of matters falling under the Common Foreign and Security Policy). It is therefore the President of the Commission’s duty to defend the EU’s interests with third country partners, which was exactly the purpose of the President’s mission to China.

Whilst the Commission’s external representation role does not require Council or European Council mandate for every single contact between the President of the Commission and her third country interlocutors, during her visit to China she acted, as always, in full compliance with the positions set out by the European Council.

In the specific case of China, the collective position of the European Council, of which the President of the Commission is a member, has been reflected, inter alia, in the European Council conclusions on China of 30 June 20232 and statements of the President of the European Council and President of the Commission at the EU-China 24th Summit in Beijing on 7 December 20233.

1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:2bf140bf-a3f8-4ab2-b506-

fd71826e6da6.0023.02/DOC_1&format=PDF

2 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/06/30/european-council-conclusions-on-china-

30-june-2023/

3 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/12/07/24th-eu-china-summit-engaging-to-

promote-our-values-and-defend-our-interests/