Politics EU Parliament: China lifts sanctions against MEPs
According to the European Parliament, China is lifting the sanctions imposed four years ago against the Subcommittee on Human Rights and several MEPs. In return, the Parliament wants to be open to a normal dialog with China again.
30.04.2025, 17:06
SDA
The German CDU politician and MEP Michael Gahler is one of the beneficiaries of the lifting of the sanctions. However, former MEP Reinhard Bütikofer is likely to remain on the sanctions list because Parliament only negotiated with the Chinese authorities on behalf of active MEPs.
Sanctions in force since 2021
China imposed the sanctions in 2021 in response to EU sanctions over the repression of the Muslim Uyghur minority in the Chinese region of Xinjiang. According to the Chinese, the affected individuals and their families have since been banned from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. In addition, they and companies and institutions associated with them are not allowed to do business with China.
In the EU, the process of concluding an investment agreement that had already been negotiated was put on hold in response. It remains to be seen whether this will now change.
"I congratulate the former colleagues against whom the arbitrary sanctions from Beijing, which were unjustified from the outset, have now been lifted," Bütikofer told the German Press Agency. However, it was unfortunate that the leadership of the European Parliament had not done more to lift the sanctions against a further six people from parliaments and civil society as well as think tanks such as the Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics). According to Bütikofer, Parliament did not even contact him.
Parliament said that it had not been able to negotiate on behalf of others. However, it was not explained why the parliament did not enforce the lifting of all sanctions as a condition for normalizing the dialogue.
EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola stated that the relationship with China remains "complex and multifaceted". However, the best way to deal with this is through exchange and dialogue.
The press release went on to say that the Conference of Presidents of the political groups in Parliament had reaffirmed that the lifting of sanctions did not mean that the European Parliament would overlook the ongoing challenges in EU-China relations. The Parliament will continue to be a staunch defender of human rights and fundamental values worldwide.
Martin Schirdewan, Chairman of the Left Group, welcomed the lifting of the sanctions and the planned revival of the dialog with China as a good step. It no longer made sense for top representatives of the EU Commission and the Member States to be able to conduct a normal dialog with China, but not Members of the European Parliament. The German politician said that this had ultimately cut itself into its own flesh.
China: Relations with the EU are developing well
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not initially confirm the end of the sanctions on Wednesday. However, spokesman Guo Jiakun said in Beijing several hours before the announcement by the European Parliament that relations between China and the EU were currently developing well. Together, China and the EU would protect the multilateral trade system under the current situation.
With regard to cooperation, Guo said that Beijing hoped that exchanges would intensify. Members of the European Parliament should come to China.
Meanwhile, it was emphasized in Brussels that the EU sanctions due to Chinese human rights violations remain in place. They stipulate that all assets of the natural or legal persons concerned must be frozen. In addition, no more money or economic resources may be made available to them. They are also banned from entering the EU. Those affected from China include the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau and representatives of the Party Committee of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
China always denies that it restricts the freedom of minorities such as the Muslim Uyghurs.
