European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at a press conference with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang last year | Pool pic by Ng Han Guan via Getty Images EU demands tougher action against ‘systemic rival’ China Commission warns EU countries Europe needs ‘full unity’ to deal with challenges posed by China.

The European Commission is pushing for a harder line on China, warning EU countries like Italy that Europe needs "full unity" to deal with economic and technological challenges posed by the Asian powerhouse.

A joint communication adopted by European commissioners Tuesday for the first time calls China "an economic competitor in pursuit of technological leadership and a systemic rival promoting alternative models of governance."

Taking a swipe at Italy, which is moving to become the first G7 country to join China's One Belt One Road strategy, the Commission says that "neither the EU nor any of its member states can effectively achieve their aims with China without full unity."

Rome's flirtation with Beijing's landmark trade project, as well as potential Italian debt sales to China, have triggered alarm in Brussels and Washington, where officials fear that such steps would open a backdoor for China to influence European politics.

Today's communication proposes 10 "concrete actions," which are supposed to be discussed and endorsed by EU leaders at their next meeting on March 21-22.

The Commission calls on China to deliver on World Trade Organization reforms, "in particular on subsidies and forced technology transfers," and wants to conclude an investment protection agreement by 2020 as well as a geographical indications agreement "swiftly." An aviation safety deal should be inked "in the coming weeks," the document says.

The Commission is pushing for "a common EU approach to the security of 5G networks ... to safeguard against potential serious security implications for critical digital infrastructure."