CCCEU statement on EU's unannounced raids on Chinese companies

CCCEU expresses serious concern over unannounced raids on Chinese companies by EU

April 23, 2024, Brussels

On April 23, 2024, China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) was informed that the offices of a Chinese company in Poland and the Netherlands were subject to investigation regarding foreign subsidies. Without prior notice, enforcement agencies authorized by the European Commission conducted raids at the company's offices in both countries in the morning. They seized the company's IT equipment and employees' mobile phones, scrutinised office documents, and demanded access to pertinent data. The CCCEU expresses serious concern over the EU conducting unjustifiable “dawn raids” to the Chinese enterprises' establishments in the EU.

The CCCEU is of the view that suspicions of subsidies can be pursued by reasonable means of investigation. The European side manifested clear intention to weaponize the Foreign Subsidies Regulation tool to suppress lawfully operating Chinese companies in Europe. The CCCEU expresses its strong dissatisfaction to the European side's raiding companies set up by Chinese enterprises in the EU without prior notice and without solid evidence.

The CCCEU contends that the EU’s actions send a detrimental message not only to Chinese enterprises but to all non-EU companies conducting business in the bloc. Over the last two months, the EU has initiated four investigations under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation, all aimed at Chinese firms. The sudden unannounced inspection on April 23 undermines the business environment for foreign companies within the EU in the disguise of foreign subsidies.

China Chamber of Commerce to the EU and its members are profoundly shocked and dissatisfied with the events of April 23. We urge the European side to effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of foreign enterprises in the EU. Furthermore, we call for the provision of a genuinely fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises.

END

简介

欧盟中国商会由中国银行（欧洲）有限公司、中国三峡（欧洲）有限公司和中远海运（欧洲）有限公司发起，于2018年8月31日在布鲁塞尔注册，目前会员单位超100家，代表1000多家在欧中资企业，覆盖主要欧盟成员国。商会位于布鲁塞尔，毗邻欧洲理事会和欧盟委员会等机构，代表中资企业利益，肩负“商通中欧、共创繁荣”的共同使命。