Verbatim report of proceedings

Tuesday, 15 December 2015 - Strasbourg

EU-China relations (debate)

  Tunne Kelam (PPE). – Mr President, the EU as a value-based entity is committed to promoting universal human rights and freedoms – even in our relations with big partners – in parallel to advancing our strategic and economic interests.

There are three points of concern: first, the imminent adoption of a new law on foreign NGOs that would severely restrict the activities of normal civil society; second, a new law on cyber-security that would institutionalise government censorship of cyberspace; third, the fact that Tibetans and Uighurs remain endangered minorities. Both groups need credible guarantees for the preservation of their language, religion and identity. The terrible fact that 140 Tibetans have already committed self-immolation is an indication of a dramatic national desperation, which is caused by the lack of meaningful dialogue. We should convince Beijing to renew dialogue with the Dalai Lama.