Belt and Road Forum – EU common
messages
1. The EU supports initiatives to upgrade infrastructure which contribute to
sustainable growth in the Euro-Asian region.
2. In its latest estimate, the Asian Development Bank said that Asia faces a
$26tn infrastructure gap until 2030 and the EU has an interest in making a
contribution to improving this.
3. Done in the right way, and carefully evaluated, more investment in
cross-border infrastructure links would unleash growth potential with
benefits for all. This should include all modes of transport (maritime, land and
air) as well as digital and energy cooperation and people-to-people contacts.
4. The European Union therefore welcomes China's initiative to bring this to
the centre of the debate today. We support co-operation with China on its "One
Belt, One Road" initiative on the basis of China fulfilling its declared aim of
making it an open initiative which adheres to market rules, EU and
international requirements and standards, and complements EU policies and
projects, in order to deliver benefits for all parties concerned and in all the
countries along the planned routes.
5. Recognising the importance and benefits of improving connectivity between
the European Union and China, the EU-China Connectivity Platform was
established in 2015 with the intention of finding synergies between EU
connectivity initiatives such as the Trans-European Transport Network Policy
and China's Belt and Road Initiative. The Platform is a good approach that
should be used to identify and promote relevant projects.
6. The European Union has a big stake in better connectivity in and with
Asia that contributes to sustainable growth; the European Union is also
a big trade and investment partner of all Asian countries – indeed, the top
partner of many – meaning that our economic prosperity is deeply
interdependent.
7. Europe and Asia share the same landmass. Intra-European and intraAsian infrastructure links should therefore not be designed in isolation. In
order to promote productive investment we need to think holistically and take
into account inter-continental links and trade flows in order to build a true
network and not a patchwork.
8. There are also persuasive technical arguments in favour of thinking in
Europe-Asia terms. Infrastructure networks must be interoperable. We want to
bring down barriers, not create new ones.
9. In Europe, we have a well-developed transport network that is fast
developing eastwards in full cooperation with all countries concerned
(Trans-European Networks, or TENs) including our partners in the EU's
neighbourhood. It is in our interest to make sure this expanding network fully
fits with other developing plans, in terms of main corridors, technical
standards, customs procedures and the other hard and soft elements necessary
to have an unimpeded flow of goods, energy and information.
10. Any ambitious scheme to connect Europe and Asia requires anopen and
inclusive approach. Transparency about plans and activities of all
stakeholders must be the basis for our cooperation, together with open, rulesbased public tenders and reciprocal market access Cross-border infrastructure
links, intra-continental and inter-continental corridors must be a matter for all
relevant countries. All should have a fair say about where priorities lie in terms
of primary infrastructure networks and secondary/sub-regional
networks.Multilateral frameworks, like ASEM, should be fully exploited to
make this inclusive approach a reality.
11. This is a long-term project that will absorb large amounts of resources
over many years. If it is to deliver on its potential, design cannot be
piecemeal. Over the years the international community has accumulated a
large body of knowledge about large-scale infrastructure that should be
used to the full.
12. Fiscal capacity is a finite resource for all countries and transparent, nondiscriminatory procurement is the best means to ensure cost-effectiveness and
reduce the risk of misappropriation of funds. We need to apply global standard
lending disciplines. At the same time, we need to bring in other financial
institutions and a more innovative approach to financing, including publicprivate partnerships and risk sharing. Special attention should be paid to
financial sustainability, notably to avoid the risk of overburdening national
budgets with over-priced loans..
13. We have also learned a lot about how to assess the impact of infrastructure
projects on the environment and on the local communities who will be most
directly affected. It is our responsibility to put this into practice for future
projects and not repeat the mistakes of the past. Fulfilling the commitments of
the Paris Agreement provides Asia and Europe with countless opportunities to
invent new and better ways to produce, consume, invest and trade, in full
synergy with the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. Sustainability
assessment must include all aspects: economic viability, fiscal sustainability,
climate and environment-friendly and social sustainability.
14. Multilateral banks, like the European Investment Bank, the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Asian Development Bank or
the World Bank, have decades of experience in Eurasia and know what works
and what does not. Their experience makes them an invaluable partner for
new institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in
designing and implementing connectivity networks.
15. Fruitful and efficient co-operation between Asia and Europe could also
benefit social and economic development in partner countries in Africa.
16. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we should remain true to the
tenet "benefits for all". This applies not only to countries, but also to
economic operators from all sides who should feel that their interests are
protected and that they have a fair chance to compete for business through
open, transparent and non-discriminatory procurement procedures.
17. A level-playing field for trade and investment based on full adherence
to market rules and international norms is a critical condition if we want to
maintain the political momentum for better connectivity in Asia and between
Europe and Asia – and reap the full benefits.