At the 16th EU-China Summit held in November 2013 both sides announced the launch of negotiations of a comprehensive EU-China Investment Agreement, which has the goal of providing for progressive liberalisation of investment, the elimination of restrictions and a level playing field for investors in each other's market. This initiative comes at a time of economic challenges for both sides. The first round of negotiations took place in Beijing on 21-23 January 2014, and recently the EU and China reaffirmed their commitment to finalise negotiations as early as possible. Both sides stressed the crucial importance of their trade and investment relationship.Investment from China in the EU remains relatively small, but the energy sector accounts for a significant share. Chinese companies have invested in infrastructure, generation, manufacturing and R&D. International direct investments by the People’s Republic of China in Europe have increased markedly since 2000, yet until 2010 the total stock of Chinese direct investment in the EU did not exceed €6.1bn – that is less than what was held by India, Iceland or Nigeria. When investors fled Europe in the worst days of its sovereign debt crisis, Chinese companies were also cautious about investment in the EU. But later Chinese companies raised their investments, with cash flowing from China into some of the hardest-hit countries of the Eurozone periphery. By the end of 2012, China’s investment stock thus had quadrupled to nearly €27bn.With this policy forum we thus want to raise a number of questions about the future of Chinese investments in Europe:How have Chinese investment activities in Europe developed?What drives these investments, and what are their prospects?Which countries and sectors do they go to?What role does the energy sector play?Do Chinese investments in Europe’s energy sector affect Europe’s sustainability agenda?The expert panel will consist of the following speakers:Alexandra Koutoglidou, European, Investment negotiator, European Commission, DG Trade, Investment UnitDuncan Freeman, Research Fellow at the Brussels Institute of Contemporary China StudiesChair: Prof. Dr. Stefanie Weil, Head of China relations Vesalius College, Academic Director Antwerp Management School