Chinese investment in Portugal and in Italy and its impact in the European Union

Abstract

The debates around Chinese investment and the detrimental effects that it might have on States on the receiving end of it have led the European Union (eu) to pursue initiatives intended to protect the national interests of its countries. The emergence of populism in Italy, together with a growing Euroscepticism and political instability, decisively influenced Italy’s foreign policy on Chinese investmentrelated matters, which led its communication strategies to affect the EU at some points. Alternatively, Portugal’s internal stability and favorable opinion of the eu enabled this country to manage its relations with China while generally taking into account the preservation of the European vector’s stability.