Oxford Silk Road Society
Promoting Environmental and Social Sustainability in the BRI
BRI IN EUROPE
Scope for Sustainability
Oxford University Silk Road Society
Summer 2021
BRI in Europe
July 2021
In partnership with UN DESA's BRI-SDG Project, this policy report explores how the BRI’s expansion in Europe through the 16+1 Cooperation Framework could be aligned with SDGs to pursue sustainability in various ways - from infrastructure to gender and education equality.
The full report is available below.
Our report sections
BRI in Europe: Scope for Sustainability
Melissa Orr
Ongoing capital infrastructure investment projects led by Chinese companies under the umbrella of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the markets of Southeast Europe (SEE) countries have raised concerns over conformity to the European Union (EU)’s existing regulatory frameworks related to environment protection, spatial planning and urbanism (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 9 and 11). However, these projects might play a significant role in promoting economic and infrastructure development in host countries (SDG 8).
Conciliating economic growth with social and environmental prosperity: Chinese investment in the Port of Piraeu
Alice Politi
Given the clear influence of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) investment in Bosnia, and the simultaneous potential for even greater growth to follow, it is worth considering how this investment may be used to the advantage of the country’s development beyond, and in addition to, the purely economic. One area of Bosnia’s development that remains to be considered in light of the BRI is women and gender.
Towards gender equality: the potentialities of BRI investment in Bosnia
Ongoing capital infrastructure investment projects led by Chinese companies under the umbrella of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the markets of Southeast Europe (SEE) countries have raised concerns over conformity to the European Union (EU)’s existing regulatory frameworks related to environment protection, spatial planning and urbanism (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 9 and 11). However, these projects might play a significant role in promoting economic and infrastructure development in host countries (SDG 8). Chinese investment in the Port of Piraeus presents an emblematic case study requiring further research over these issues.
Ongoing capital infrastructure investment projects led by Chinese companies under the umbrella of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the markets of Southeast Europe (SEE) countries have raised concerns over conformity to the European Union (EU)’s existing regulatory frameworks related to environment protection, spatial planning and urbanism (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 9 and 11). However, these projects might play a significant role in promoting economic and infrastructure development in host countries (SDG 8). Chinese investment in the Port of Piraeus presents an emblematic case study requiring further research over these issues.
Ongoing capital infrastructure investment projects led by Chinese companies under the umbrella of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the markets of Southeast Europe (SEE) countries have raised concerns over conformity to the European Union (EU)’s existing regulatory frameworks related to environment protection, spatial planning and urbanism (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 9 and 11). However, these projects might play a significant role in promoting economic and infrastructure development in host countries (SDG 8). Chinese investment in the Port of Piraeus presents an emblematic case study requiring further research over these issues.
Aisha Ryan
In 2020, the Romanian government finally asked Nuclearelectrica to terminate the memorandum of understanding on building two sole nuclear power plants in Cernavoda with China General Nuclear Energy Corporation (CGN), marking the failure of all important energy projects between two countries. This article analyzes why China's energy investment in this country has not succeeded, although Romania is one of the largest recipient countries under the BRI framework, and puts forward perspectives on how to move forward for future energy collaboration in the Balkans.
China's failed energy projects in Romania: Prospect vs Retrospect of BRI in the Balkan
Dao Ngyuen
This case study analyses the reality of the intention of improving education along the Belt and Road, which also supports SDG 4, by analysing the role of the China-Central Eastern European Countries Higher Education Institutions Consortium in helping to achieve this goal. The Consortium is made up of countries of the 16+1 framework. This framework promotes business and investment between China and 16 countries of the Central and Eastern European region.