
The China Scholarship and Policy Advice: Reaching (out to) Decision Makers on China Training School, organized by CHERN and Institute of East Asian Politics at Ruhr-University Bochum, will continue on Thursday April 27th with its second online session.
Panel discussion: EU-China relations and the need to upgrade independent knowledge on China from a lawmaker’s perspective
What role does China play in the European Parliament? In late March, President von der Leyen gave a speech on the future of EU-China relations and following her trip to China, the Parliament held a key debate about the need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations. The European Parliament is a key actor in shaping the future of this relationship. We are very honored to welcome two distinguished members of the European parliament to share their views on EU-China relations, how China features in parliamentary debates, and the need to upgrade independent knowledge on China. After short introductory remarks, there will be a panel discussion followed by half an hour of Q&A.
Thursday, April 27
16:00 – 17:30 Brussels time
Closed event - upon invitation. The session will not be recorded
Speakers:

Ms. Marie-Pierre Vedrenne
Member of European Parliament/ L’Europe Ensemble in the Renew Group
Marie-Pierre Vedrenne is Vice-Chair of the Committee on International Trade and of the ACP-EU delegation. She is also the co-Chair of the French delegation L’Europe Ensemble in the Renew Group. She sits in the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, and in the Committee on Petitions.
Having graduated in European and WTO law, she has an in-depth knowledge of the European Union’s trade policy. She has been the European Parliament Rapporteur on the Enforcement regulation revision. Marie-Pierre Vedrenne led the Maison de l’Europe in Rennes before her election to the European Parliament.
She continues to work in building bridges between the EU, its institutions and the citizens. In Brussels and Strasbourg, she works daily to put an end to all forms of unfair competition on the international scene, while defending a rules-based, fair and sustainable globalization.

Mr. Reinhard Bütikofer
Member of European Parliament / Greens / EFA
Reinhard Bütikofer is a Member of the European Parliament (Greens/EFA). He sits on the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), where he serves as Greens/EFA foreign affairs spokesperson, and on the Committee on International Trade (INTA) as a substitute member. He is the Chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with the People’s Republic of China as well as a member of the Delegation to the United States and a substitute member of the ASEAN Delegation.
From 2012 to 2019 he was co-chair of the European Green Party (EGP). Before getting elected to the European Parliament in 2009, Mr. Bütikofer was the Co-Chair of the German Green Party BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN (from 2002 until 2008). He was the party’s Secretary General from 1998 until 2002. Prior to that he served as the Chair of the Greens in the Federal State of Baden- Württemberg. From 1988 until 1996 he served as a Member of the Baden- Württemberg State Parliament. His engagement with the German Greens began when he was elected as a member of the city council in Heidelberg in 1984.
Besides his positions in the party and parliament Mr. Bütikofer is a member of the Europe/ Transatlantic Advisory Board and the General Assembly of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the NABU Club, the trade union ver.di, the German-Israeli Society and the German-Chinese Dialogue Forum, as well as the DGAP, the ECFR and the IISS.
From 2012 to 2019 he was co-chair of the European Green Party (EGP). Before geZng elected to the European Parliament in 2009, Mr. BüSkofer was the Co-Chair of the German Green Party BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN (from 2002 unSl 2008). He was the party’s Secretary General from 1998 unSl 2002. Prior to that he served as the Chair of the Greens in the Federal State of Baden- WürKemberg. From 1988 unSl 1996 he served as a Member of the Baden-WürKemberg State Parliament. His engagement with the German Greens began when he was elected as a member of the city council in Heidelberg in 1984.
Besides his posiSons in the party and parliament Mr. BüSkofer is a member of the Europe/ TransatlanSc Advisory Board and the General Assembly of the Heinrich Böll FoundaSon, the NABU Club, the trade union ver.di, the German-Israeli Society and the German-Chinese Dialogue Forum, as well as the DGAP, the ECFR and the IISS.
Moderator:
Matthias Stepan (Researcher Ruhr-University Bochum, lead knowledge management at China-Horizons)