Wednesday, December 19, 2007

EU Motion/Resolution on the Olympics

EU-China: Beijing summit and human rights dialogue

Excerpt from a Press Release via Save Tibet: Turning to the 2008 Olympic Games, Parliament argues "that human rights concerns should receive much more focus in the build-up to the Beijing Olympic Games" and points in this connection to Articles 1 and 2 of the Olympic Charter. It also requests the International Olympic Committee "to publish its own assessment of China's compliance with the undertakings given in 2001 before the Games were awarded to Beijing".

The resolution highlights political persecution related to the Olympics, of human rights defenders, journalists and others. The repression of ethnic groups such as the Uighurs and religious groups such as the Falun Gong is also condemned, as is the surveillance and censorship of information on the internet. In addition, Parliament wants the Chinese authorities "to establish a moratorium on executions during the Olympic Games in 2008, and to withdraw the list of 42 banned categories of people".

Lastly, among other demands, the resolution calls on China "to implement the recommendations of the UN special rapporteur on torture" and "to stop its ongoing support for the regimes in Myanmar and Darfur".

The resolution can be found here

12.12.2007 B6-0543/2007 }

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

pursuant to Rule 103(4) of the Rules of Procedure, by

– Edward McMillan-Scott, Georg Jarzembowski, Tunne Kelam, Patrick Gaubert

and Laima Liucija Andrikien÷, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group

– Hannes Swoboda, on behalf of the PSE Group

– Dirk Sterckx and Marco Cappato, on behalf of the ALDE Group

– Brian Crowley, on behalf of the UEN Group

– Hélène Flautre, Raül Romeva i Rueda, Helga Trüpel, Eva Lichtenberger and

Milan Horáček, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

– Vittorio Agnoletto and Esko Seppänen, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group

replacing the motions by the following groups:

European Parliament resolution on EU/China Summit - EU/China human rights dialogue

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Joint Statement of the 10th China-EU Summit held in Beijing on 28

November 2007,

– having regard to the public hearing held on 26 November 2007 by its Subcommittee on

Human Rights on 'Human Rights in China in the run-up to the Olympics',

– having regard to the rounds of the EU-China Dialogue on Human Rights held in Beijing on

17 October 2007 and in Berlin on 15-16 May 2007,

– having regard to its resolution of 6 September 2007 on the functioning of the human rights

dialogues and consultations on human rights with third countries1,

– having regard to its resolution of 15 February 2007 on the dialogue between the Chinese

government and the envoys of the Dalai Lama2,

– having regard to its resolution of 7 September 2006 on EU-China relations3 and to its

previous resolutions on China,

– having regard to the European Union Guidelines on Human Rights Dialogues, adopted on

13 December 2001, and to the evaluation of the implementation of these guidelines,

adopted on 9 December 2004,

– having regard to its previous annual resolutions on human rights in the world,

– having regard to the UN Olympics Truce, as passed by the UN General Assembly on

31 October 2007 (A/RES/62/4), inviting UN Member States to observe and promote peace

during the Olympic Games,

– having regard to the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas since the set up of the EU-China Summit mechanism in 1998, China-EU relations

have strongly developed politically and economically,

B. whereas any decision to initiate a human rights dialogue is taken on the basis of certain

criteria adopted by the Council, which notably take into consideration the major concerns

on the part of the EU about the human rights situation on the ground in the country

concerned, a genuine commitment on the part of the authorities of the country concerned,

with regard to such dialogue, to improving the human rights situation on the ground, and

the positive impact which a human rights dialogue may have on the human rights situation,

C. whereas the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games should constitute an ideal opportunity for

focusing the world attention on the human rights situation in China,

D. whereas the EU is based upon and defined by its adherence to the principles of liberty,

democracy and respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law;

recalling, at the same time, that the EU considers that adherence to these principles

constitutes the prerequisite for peace and stability in any society,

E. whereas the EU-China strategic partnership is of great importance for the relations between

the EU and China and whereas a genuine partnership must be based on shared common

values,

F. whereas the strengthening and deepening of EU-China relations could help to develop

convergent views for actions to tackle global challenges such as climate change, security,

terrorism and non-proliferation of arms,

G. whereas there are continuous disturbing reports of political repression, particularly of

journalists, human rights activists and members of religious and ethnic minorities,

allegations of torture, widespread use of forced labour, frequent use of the death penalty

and systematic repression of freedom of religion, speech and the media including the

Internet, and the strict controls exercised by the Chinese Government over information

about and access to the Tibetan areas of China; whereas it is therefore difficult to

determine accurately the scope of human rights abuses,

H. whereas China's engagement and influence in the world have increased considerably over

the last decade, and considering that credibility, democratic values and responsibility

should constitute the fundamental basis of the relationship between the EU and China,

EU-China Summit

1. Welcomes the Joint Statement of the 10th EU-China Summit in which both sides reaffirm

their commitment to developing a comprehensive strategic partnership to meet global

challenges, as well as the further development of EU-China relations and their closer

cooperation in order to deal with a wide range of issues;

2. Regrets the fact that once again the Council and Commission have failed to raise in a firm

manner human rights issues at the EU-China Summit in order to give more political weight

to human rights concerns, and that the EU did not take the opportunity of the approach of

the Olympics to address serious human rights concerns in China;

3. Calls on China and the EU to ensure a more balanced trade and economic partnership

which should lead to sustainable growth and social development, in particular in the areas

of climate change, environment and energy;

4. Considers that the pirating and counterfeiting of European products and brands by Chinese

industries constitutes a serious violation of international trade rules; urges the Chinese

authorities to considerably improve the protection of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR);

5. Calls at the same time for greater coherence and consistency between human rights on one

side and trade and security on the other side; urges therefore the EU, to ensure that

improved trading relationship with China is contingent upon human rights reforms, and

calls on the Council, in this regard, to make a comprehensive evaluation of the human

rights situation before finalizing any new Partnership and Cooperation Framework

Agreement (PCFA);

6. Welcomes, therefore, the launch and start of negotiations on a PCFA, which will cover the

full scope of the EU-China bilateral relationship, including an effective and operational

human rights clause, as well as strengthened and enhanced cooperation on political

matters; reiterates its demand concerning inclusion of the EP in all future bilateral relations

between the parties, taking into account that, without the EP's formal assent, there can be

no PCFA;

7. Insists that the EU arms embargo on China following the Tiananmen events must remain

intact until substantial progress is made on human rights issues; reminds the EU Member

States that the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports includes as a criterion respect for

human rights in the country of final destination of such exports;

8. Is concerned that, despite repeated representations by the Chinese government of intentions to ratify the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), ratification is still pending; urges then China, without further delay to ratify and implement it;

EU-China human rights dialogue

9. Regrets that China's human rights record remains a matter of serious concern; emphasises,

therefore, the need to considerably strengthen and improve the EU-China human rights

dialogue; calls on the Council to provide a more detailed briefing to the Parliament;

considers it relevant to continue to organise the EU-China legal seminar on human rights,

which used to precede the dialogue, with the participation of academic and civil society

representatives, and in this regard welcomes the establishment of an EU-China Human

Rights Academic Network under Objective 3 of the European Instrument for Democracy

and Human Rights (IDHR) and calls on the Commission to ensure that this network will

effectively function in cooperation with Parliament;

10. Considers that the matters discussed in the successive rounds of dialogue with China,

such as ratification of the ICCPR, reform of the criminal justice system, including the death

penalty and the system of re-education through work, freedom of expression, particularly

on the Internet, freedom of the press, freedom of access to information, freedom of

conscience, thought and religion, the situation of minorities in Tibet, the release of

detainees following the events in Tiananmen Square, and workers' and other rights, must

continue to be raised in the context of the dialogue, in particular with regard to the

application of the recommendations resulting from previous dialogues mutually agreed

upon by both parties and seminars on legal affairs; to this end, calls on the Council to

consider extending the time period of the dialogue and to allow more time for discussion of

the issues raised; calls, furthermore, on the Council and Commission to pay special

attention to compliance with the International Labour Organisation's conventions with

regard, in particular, to independent trade unions and child labour;

11. Notes China's commitment to support the UN Human Rights Council in performing its

function of addressing human rights issues in a credible, objective and non-selective

manner, and calls for a strengthened cooperation in the UN system as well as to cooperate

with the UN human rights mechanisms and the international human rights standards

provided for in the relevant international human rights instruments, including the rights of

minorities;

12. Draws attention to the need for China to allow the free expression and practice of religion

and thought; affirms the need, particularly in the light of the discussions among Chinese

officials about the definition of 'religion' and especially 'legal religion', for a

comprehensive law on religion meeting international standards and guaranteeing genuine

religious freedom; deplores the contradiction between the constitutional freedom of belief

(enshrined in Article 36 of the Chinese Constitution) and the ongoing interference of the

state in the affairs of religious communities, in particular as regards the training, selection,

appointment and political indoctrination of ministers of religion;

13. Regrets that the sixth Sino-Tibetan round of talks has brought about no results; calls on the parties to make every effort in order to continue the dialogue and calls upon the Chinese

government to engage in substantive negotiations taking into due consideration the

demands of the Dalai Lama for autonomy for Tibet; calls on China to refrain from exerting

pressure on states that have friendly relations with the Dalai Lama;

14. Reiterates its concern over the reports of continuing human rights violations in Tibet and in the other provinces inhabited by Tibetan people, including torture, arbitrary arrest and

detention, repression of religious freedom, arbitrary restrictions on free movement, and

rehabilitation through labour camps; deplores the intensification of the so-called 'patriotic

education' campaign since October 2005 in Tibet's monasteries and nunneries, forcing

Tibetans to sign declarations denouncing the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist; calls

upon China to allow an independent body to have access to Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the

Panchen Lama of Tibet, and his parents, as requested by the UN Committee on the Rights

of the Child;

15. Calls on China, as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, to implement the

recommendations of the UN special rapporteur on torture and to issue a standing invitation

to China to UN experts;

16. Is of the opinion that human rights concerns should receive much more focus in the buildup to the Beijing Olympic Games; and reiterates "respect for universal fundamental ethical principles" and the promotion of a peaceful society concerned "with the preservation of human dignity' as enshrined in Articles 1 and 2 of the Olympic Charter;

17. Requests the International Olympic Committee to publish its own assessment of China's

compliance with the undertakings given in 2001 before the Games were awarded to

Beijing; stresses the responsibility of the EU to take note of such an assessment and to

work with its Olympic Network to create a basis for responsible behaviour in preparation

for, during and after the Olympics;

18. Is strongly concerned by the recent increase of political persecutions related to the

Olympics of human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, petitioners, civil society

activists, ethnic groups such as the Uighurs, religious of all beliefs, especially Falun Gong

practitioners; calls on the Chinese authorities to release these people immediately and to

put an end to these human rights violations, as well as to the demolition of substantial

numbers of houses without compensation to make way for the Olympic infrastructures;

19. Calls on China to make concrete steps to grant freedom of expression, and to respect

freedom of the press, both for Chinese and foreign journalists, raises particular concerns

about the lack of implementation of the new regulation on international journalists active

in China, and urges the Chinese authorities to immediately stop censoring and blocking -

especially with the help of multinational companies - thousands of news and information

websites based abroad, calls for the release of all journalists, Internet users and cyberdissidents detained in China for exercising their right to information; reiterates its call on the Chinese authorities to establish a moratorium on executions during the Olympic Games in 2008, and to withdraw the ban list of 42 categories of people;

20. Draws attention to the conclusions of the 17th Chinese Communist Party National

Congress, held in mid-October 2007, at which different perspectives and openness arose

towards the implementation of higher international human rights benchmarks in China;

21. Urges China to stop its ongoing support for the regimes in Myanmar and the situation in

Darfur;

22. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the

Governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government of the People's

Republic of China, the Chinese National People's Congress, the Secretary-General of the

United Nations, and the Board of the International Olympic Committee.


OLYMPIC WATCH: Human Rights in China and Beijing 2008

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