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.
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