China is shopping in southern Europe

News this week should trigger serious concern that the EU is on the verge of full disintegration. But not the news you think.

(Source: SITA)

With attention focused on Brexit foolishness and confusion in Europe’s north, Chinese President Xi Jinping is quietly visiting Italy, the largest economy in Europe’s south. The Italians are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding to join China’s so-called Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, and a look back the past few years tells you why.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

Italy is, of course, a core EU member state (the EU’s founding document is the Treaty of Rome, after all). There was a time in the recent past when funding strategic infrastructure to facilitate the movement of people and goods into and around the EU free trade zone — promoting growth — was something Brussels would do. In southern Europe, however, Brussels has done the exact opposite.

The rest of this article is premium content at Spectator.sk
Subscribe now for full access

I already have subscription - Sign in

Subscription provides you with:
  • Immediate access to all locked articles (premium content) on Spectator.sk
  • Special weekly news summary + an audio recording with a weekly news summary to listen to at your convenience (received on a weekly basis directly to your e-mail)
  • PDF version of the latest issue of our newspaper, The Slovak Spectator, emailed directly to you
  • Access to all premium content on Sme.sk and Korzar.sk

Top stories

Stock image.

Twice as many Ukrainians work in Slovakia now than before the Russian invasion.


Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad