Chinese influence in the CEE region and the forming of a unified EU approach towards regulating IFDI: A Budapest-Belgrade railway case study

The EU currently faces a challenge to adopt a unified approach to control Chinese IFDI in the CEE region. It is commonly assumed that the securitization of Chinese influence and the measures in place obstruct efficient regulation of (Chinese) IFDI. This thesis aims to determine to what extent the EU can respond in a uniform way to protect European strategic infrastructure assets from China’s investment ambitions in the CEE region. More specifically, this research will analyse the effectiveness of the current measures adopted by the EU to control Chinese IFDI and it will examine the possible obstruction of a uniform approach towards regulation by considering the West-European bias, in particular the Franco-German dominance. To answer the research question, the research will make use of an in-depth case study on the Budapest-Belgrade railway project and will use neoliberal institutionalism as the theoretical framework. The results revealed weaknesses in the EU measures and...Show moreThe EU currently faces a challenge to adopt a unified approach to control Chinese IFDI in the CEE region. It is commonly assumed that the securitization of Chinese influence and the measures in place obstruct efficient regulation of (Chinese) IFDI. This thesis aims to determine to what extent the EU can respond in a uniform way to protect European strategic infrastructure assets from China’s investment ambitions in the CEE region. More specifically, this research will analyse the effectiveness of the current measures adopted by the EU to control Chinese IFDI and it will examine the possible obstruction of a uniform approach towards regulation by considering the West-European bias, in particular the Franco-German dominance. To answer the research question, the research will make use of an in-depth case study on the Budapest-Belgrade railway project and will use neoliberal institutionalism as the theoretical framework. The results revealed weaknesses in the EU measures and shortcomings in the EU’s effectiveness as the result of a fragmented Union and a biased approach to regulate Chinese IFDI. The results suggest a re-evaluation of the EU’s strategy to ensure an effective and unified approach.Show less

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Chinese influence in the CEE region and the forming of a unified EU approach towards regulating IFDI: A Budapest-Belgrade railway case study