EU-Asia Connectivity: France’s Three Largest Cities and China’s Belt and Road

2020 ◽  
Vol 03 (01) ◽  
pp. 2050001
Author(s):  
Jean-Paul Larçon ◽  
Corinne Vadcar
Keyword(s):  
Metropolitan Areas ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Human Interactions ◽  
Economic Competitiveness ◽  
The Past ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Political Borders ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

The concept of connectivity has over the past decades become central to economic competitiveness, especially in a world of value chains. It now tends to have both a strategic dimension - in a renewed geopolitical context - and a sustainable dimension - with global warming. This is particularly true in the EU-Asia relationship. The strengthening of this connectivity, particularly in the case of transport infrastructure (maritime, rail, air and submarine), provides opportunities for trade in goods, services and data but also human interactions between the two regions. But it goes further with the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). While Europe has for several decades paid considerable attention to connectivity within its political borders, nothing was preparing it to the impact of this multifaceted initiative. This is particularly evident for the three largest French metropolitan areas (Paris, Lyon and Marseille), which show different degrees of connectivity with China, depending on whether it is a maritime, rail, air or submarine route. While it is not possible to simplify the connectivity with China of each city to only one aspect, it nevertheless appears that Paris has a powerful advantage on the air route, Lyon potentially on the rail route and Marseille on the submarine route.

scholarly journals Chinese Investment in Transport Infrastructure in the EU: a Stimulus for Development of Bilateral Trade?

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 152-169
Author(s):  
K. A. Gemueva
Keyword(s):  
Bilateral Trade ◽  
Optimal Transport ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Chinese Investment ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Port Facilities ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

Under the Belt and Road Initiative, particular importance is attached to transport networks development projects, including the creation of optimal transport routes and reorientation of existing supply chains based on the interests of China. This implies the active participation of Chinese companies in investing, financing and implementing projects in the field of transport infrastructure. The article examines the impact of Chinese investment in EU transport infrastructure facilities on the volume of freight traffic between China and the EU through these facilities. Most of the real Chinese investment are directed to the development of port facilities. European airports are also of great interest to Chinese investors, however, under the influence of many factors, only a few projects are successful. China is making significant efforts to establish direct rail links with EU countries. Nevertheless, the share of this type of transport is not yet comparable with freight turnover by sea and air, and future development is limited by a number of factors. Currently, COSCO’s investment in the Greek port of Piraeus is the only example of a significant increase in cargo turnover between China and the EU through an infrastructure under control, however, some ongoing projects could potentially repeat the success of COSCO in the near future. The author concludes that the approaches of the Chinese leadership to the transport infrastructure development are varied. Failures in the implementation of separate projects and the cautious attitude of Brussels towards Chinese investments do not stop China’s planned efforts focused on the long term perspective.

scholarly journals Impact of Transport Infrastructure on Gross Regional Products: Evidence from Chinese Provinces under the “Belt and Road Initiative”

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-45
Author(s):  
Jin-Hui Li ◽  
Chol-Ju An ◽  
Gwang-Nam Rim
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Development Levels ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Belt And Road

Purpose: This paper analyzes the impact of transport infrastructure on Gross Regional Products in Chinese provinces under the “Belt and Road Initiative”. Methods: The impact of the key elements of transport infrastructure on Gross Regional Products is analyzed based on the data related to development levels of transport infrastructure and economic development. Correlation and regression analyses were used for data analysis. Results: It is found that railways and highways, which are the key elements of transport infrastructure, have a strong correlation with Gross Regional Products, and their effects are diverse among provinces under study. Implications: The findings demonstrate the position and role of diverse infrastructural elements in enhancing the economic benefits of infrastructural investment and promoting economic growth. Thus, it is expected to facilitate decision-making related to infrastructural investment under the “Belt and Road Initiative”.

scholarly journals FDI determinants in Europe and Chinese influence

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-37
Author(s):  
Alena Dorakh
Keyword(s):  
Trade Costs ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Eu Membership ◽  
Vertical Fdi ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

Despite recent concerns about the increasing influence of outside investors on the European Union (EU) and Western Balkans, the developed European countries are still a dominant source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the region, confirming the benefits of EU membership. At the same time, fast-growing connectivity and lower trade costs in accession and neighboring countries determine the FDI growth from China, particularly via the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). By applying panel data over 2000-2019 for 34 countries, which form 89% of all European FDI, we first examine FDI patterns around Europe, compare the EU, NMS, and Western Balkans; verify the importance of EU membership for FDI, caused reducing trade costs and improving connectivity. Thus, the new EU member states (NMS) and Western Balkans appear both as a home country and as a pre- entry destination to the EU. Then, we calculate trade costs indices for each selected country and partners over time and find that Europe and China are closely interconnected through trade and FDI. It means that stronger ties with China can be realized for the sample countries at the cost of easing relations with the EU. Finally, incorporating trade costs indices into the FDI model; we evaluate the impact of connectivity on FDI and estimate how BRI affected FDI in Europe. Additionally, we validate that the old framework of horizontal and vertical FDI not representative well and even new complex vertical or export-oriented FDI strategies are shifting today.

EU offers fair dealing in its 'Belt and Road' response

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Fair Trade ◽  
Road Transport ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fair Dealing ◽  
Digital Network ◽  
Transport Connectivity ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
The Eu

Subject The EU's answer to Belt and Road. Significance A strategy paper called 'Connecting Europe and Asia' is the most detailed exposition to date of the EU's emerging approach towards China's Belt and Road transport infrastructure initiative. It envisages investment in land, sea and air routes, and improved digital network connections, all founded on fair trade, EU market rules and new partnerships with Asian countries. Impacts The EU strategy may encourage states in Eastern Europe to avoid over-reliance on China. In landlocked Central Asia, there is little the EU can offer that outweighs the transport connectivity opportunities offered by China. Russia's response will be important: it may find EU initiatives more attractive than expanding Chinese economic influence.

scholarly journals Olena Stepaniv Contribution to the Development of Transport Geography and Geologistics in Ukraine

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-90
Author(s):  
Ihor Smyrnov ◽  
Olha Liubitseva
Keyword(s):  
Black Sea ◽  
Social Geography ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Central Position ◽  
Sea Transport ◽  
Industrial Enterprises ◽  
Transport Geography ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

Peculiarities of life, military, the diplomatic activity of Doctor of Sciences in Geography, O. I. Stepaniv, as well as her scientific achievements as a Ukrainian geographer and geologist, are revealed. Olena Stepanov was the first woman in Ukraine and the world – a military officer in the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen (Ukrainski Sichovi Striltsi, USS) and the Ukrainian Galician Army (Ukrainska Halytska Armiia, UHA) during the First World War and the Ukrainian Liberation War of 1917–1921, a diplomatic official of the Western Ukrainian People’s Republic and the Ukrainian People’s Republic. Having a doctorate in geography and history, she made a significant contribution to the development of Ukrainian geographical science, including economic and social geography, as well as transport geography and modern understanding of geologistics. The last two areas of geographical science are most fully disclosed in her work “Modern Lviv”, which provides a comprehensive description of the transport infrastructure of Lviv and Lviv region and its importance in the transport system of Ukraine, in particular, emphasizes the central position of Lviv as a transport and logistics hub on the trans-European way connecting the Baltic and Black Seas; identified the main transport routes of Lviv region, important on a national scale; in addition to the main roads, regional and local ones were identified and characterized. The characteristics of transport routes were combined with the indication of the most significant industrial enterprises of Lviv region; tourist and recreational areas and centres which were located on the ways of transport routes were indicated, as well as the tourist specialization of these centres (in textbooks on the geography of transport of the Soviet era, it was not mentioned at all); such transport and logistics indicators as road congestion, traffic intensity on them were used, as well as their historical names were given and their significance in the past was revealed. O. I. Stepaniv’s scientific works remain relevant today. This applies not only to the problems of the geography of transport communication in modern Lviv but also to current issues of international logistics, in particular, Ukraine’s participation in the Baltic-Black Sea transport and logistics integration system. O.I. Stepaniv’s scientific works on transport geography are of direct importance to the most modern EU project in the field of transport and logistics – the Three Seas Initiative (TSI). The recent TSI Summit in Tallinn (October 19–20, 2020) highlighted the impact of the TSI on the entire Baltic-Adriatic Black Sea region. TSI is open to countries – strategic partners of the EU, including Ukraine. Although the latter is not a member of the EU, it was invited to the first TSI summit in 2016 andis currently an active participant in many projects under this Initiative, without having formal membership in the TSI. Ukraine should continue to cooperate with TSI, especially with Poland, in such important infrastructure projects as the Gdansk-Odesa highway, the railway Viking project, the development of gas infrastructure within the North-South corridor (involving Ukrainian underground storage facilities of “blue fuel”), etc.

scholarly journals Transport Sector Impacts of a Border between Ireland and Northern Ireland after a Hard Brexit

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Khaoula Morchid ◽  
Margaret O’Mahony
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Border Crossings ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Processing Times ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

More than half of British voters chose to leave the European Union (EU) leading to a series of negotiations between the United Kingdom and the EU. The withdrawal of the UK from the EU is widely referred to as Brexit. As the only country that shares a land border with the UK, the impact of Brexit on Ireland is expected to be greater than on any other European country. The objective of the research is to evaluate the potential impact of Brexit on the transport sector in Ireland at a micro level by focusing on cross‐border commuters and by also assessing the impact on road freight transport. Potential crossing scenarios are examined at six crossing locations. Assuming a hard border is implemented, each crossing is modelled in VISSIM, a microscopic traffic flow simulation software, using traffic data from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and dwell time estimated based on the US–Canada border crossings. Six scenarios are considered to determine the impact on cross‐border traffic at different flow conditions and with varying levels of technology used in border infrastructure leading to short versus long processing times. The paper evaluates travel measures including delays, queue lengths and emissions. The worst‐case scenario has a vehicle delay of 18.4 min and the highest delay‐associated costs across all locations modelled are estimated at €60.7 million per year. Estimated emissions generated at the border crossings raise concerns about environmental impacts of a hard Brexit. Interviews with stakeholders emphasized the critical role of technology in reducing the impact of a hard Brexit on cross‐border commuters and on the freight sector. A key finding is the importance of using technology tools to facilitate controls and reduce processing times. The results indicate that technology use leads to significant time and cost savings as well as reduced environmental impacts.

scholarly journals Exploring Race Hate Crime Reporting in Wales Following Brexit

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gareth Cuerden ◽  
Colin Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Hate Crime ◽  
Hate Crimes ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Fundamental Idea ◽  
Economic Changes ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Political Decisions ◽  
The Eu ◽  
The Way

 Most countries consist of many diverse races and cultures, based on historical political decisions, wars or economic changes. Throughout Europe over the past decades the policy of free movement for work as part of the EU agreements has encouraged this activity. Indeed this has been a fundamental idea behind the European Union ever since its inception. However, what can the consequences be for those individuals who, encouraged by such policies, find themselves located in a country which has decided to no longer be part of that system? In particular what impact does this decision appear to have on the way those considered to be “racially different” are treated by others? This article explores the impact the recent decision by Great Britain took to leave the EU (so called Brexit) and its impact upon the number of racially recorded hate crimes in Wales. Using examples from terrorist incidents in Europe, along with the Brexit result, as examples, it provides clear evidence that when certain incidents occur in wider society, there is an impact upon the way in which so called non-indigenous people are treated, which results in an increase in criminality. These results will have resonance for other countries with a mixed population, as well as having implications for those agencies involved in the protection and safety of all inhabitants in their country.

scholarly journals The Norse landnám on the North Atlantic islands: an environmental impact assessment

Polar Record ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Dugmore ◽  
Mike J. Church ◽  
Paul C. Buckland ◽  
Kevin J. Edwards ◽  
Ian Lawson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Environmental Gradient ◽  
Ninth Century ◽  
Geographical Patterns ◽  
Human Interactions ◽  
The Past ◽  
The North ◽  
Initial Settlement ◽  
The North Atlantic ◽  
The Impact

The Norse colonisation or landnám of the North Atlantic islands of the Faroes, Iceland, and Greenland from the ninth century AD onwards provides opportunities to examine human environmental impacts on ‘pristine’ landscapes on an environmental gradient from warmer, more maritime conditions in the east to colder, more continental conditions in the west. This paper considers key environmental contrasts across the Atlantic and initial settlement impacts on the biota and landscape. Before landnám, the modes of origin of the biota (which resulted in boreo-temperate affinities), a lack of endemic species, limited diversity, and no grazing mammals on the Faroes or Iceland, were crucial in determining environmental sensitivity to human impact and, in particular, the impact of introduced domestic animals. Gathering new data and understanding their geographical patterns and changes through time are seen as crucial when tackling fundamental questions about human interactions with the environment, which are relevant to both understanding the past and planning for the future.

scholarly journals The Impact of Transport on International Trade Development

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duško Pavlović ◽  
Božica Radoš
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Impact

AbstractInternational trade implies transport of specific quantity of goods to (frequently) large distances, the success of which depends on the safety and speed of delivery. These are greatly conditioned by the quality of means of transport and infrastructure. This is why international trade development is affected by transport, and the development of means of transport and infrastructure is, to a great extent, influenced by demand for international delivery of various commodities. This paper looks at the interdependence of international trade and transport, showing how transport played a very significant role in international trade development in the past as it does today, commensurate to the role of international trade in the development of carriers and transport infrastructure.

scholarly journals Innovation in Hungary - The Impact of EU Accession and Integration into Global Value Chains

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Szalavetz
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Global Value Chains ◽  
Policy Transfer ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Minor Importance ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Eu Accession ◽  
Eu Membership ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

Abstract This paper argues that EU accession has brought about minimal changes in the patterns of innovation in Hungary. The reason why is not that the ‘EU factor’ is of minor importance; rather, it is Hungary's inability to use EU resources effectively, so as to fully benefit from EU membership. The Hungarian story also demonstrates that the EU cannot block member states from reversing reform or abusing the opportunities EU membership offers to them. We contend that globalization (global value chain integration) has more effectively contributed to Hungary's knowledge-based upgrading than Europeanization (in the sense of policy transfer; access to EU Structural & Cohesion Funds, and integration in the European Research Area). This argument is substantiated with a case study on innovation strategy design and implementation, which illustrates the ambiguous impact of Europeanization, which is contrasted with our investigation of integration in global value chains, conducted through interviews of foreign-owned manufacturing companies about their R&D-based upgrading experience.

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