Investment – EIAS

To BRI or not to BRI: Examining European Implications of Nepal and China’s Different Perspectives on BRI Projects

In 2013 China launched its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which seeks to increase globalisation and connectivity primarily through infrastructure projects. Through these projects, China aims to make economic gains as well as support the host country’s infrastructure, as many of the 150 signatories on the initiative are Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and to close the global infrastructure gap.

Building Bridges: Post-Pandemic Opportunities for Cooperating on Sino-EU Infrastructure Initiatives

As the world recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic and the global order is shifting, new opportunities are arising for cooperation and enhanced coordination on international infrastructure development. This EIAS Briefing Paper examines the potential and risks for collaboration between China and Europe on their respective connectivity initiatives, and assesses potential challenges, pitfalls, as well as pathways to accomplish this. This is done by (1) illustrating the potential and risks of China’s Belt and Road Initiative; (2) explaining the impacts and changes that have emerged since the pandemic; (3) examining the other actors’ connectivity and infrastructure initiatives, including the EU’s Global Gateway; (4) listing the modes for cooperation; and (5) recommending channels through which to overcome challenges associated with coordination on infrastructure initiatives.

Infrastructure Financing in Sri Lanka: Lessons Learnt and Future Collaboration

Over the past decade, Sri Lanka has seen a steady rise in foreign debt, largely as a result of unsustainable infrastructural loans. This debt was exacerbated by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the highly remunerative tourism sector majorly impacted. In early 2021, the government was forced to declare a state of economic emergency amidst a distressing fall in the value of the Sri Lankan Rupee.

Uncertainty Looming over EU Investments in Myanmar Amid Political Crisis

More than half a year has passed since the military coup in Myanmar by the Tatmadaw. This has put an end to a decade-long period of democratic transitioning, which started in 2011 under Prime Minister U Thein Sein (Hlaing 2016). In October 2021, eight months after the coup, the situation in Myanmar is still far from stable.

The EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment: Between Realpolitik and Fundamental Values

On 30 December 2020, the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) between the European Union and China was announced, just hours before the end of the negotiations’ time limit laid down at their previous meeting in September. The text of the CAI was long-awaited and released on 22 January 2021 for information purposes. However, it may still undergo further modifications. The Agreement is said to guarantee an ‘unprecedented level of market access to EU companies in China’. Currently still to be signed, the deal will need to be vetted by experts and lawyers and to be ratified by the European Parliament before being effectively signed by the two parts.