VP/HR — Updates on organ harvesting in China
28.11.2018
Question for written answer E-006025-18
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Jonathan Arnott (EFDD)
414 members of the European Parliament, including myself, signed the Written Declaration 0048/2016 on stopping organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience in China[1].
This issue continues to be one of grave concern. The authors of a 2017 report by the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China estimated that China performs 60 000 to 100 000 transplants a year[2], although the actual numbers have not been disclosed. It is suspected that the Chinese Government is involved in live organ harvesting, predominantly of Falun Gong practitioners, along with other groups of people including Uighurs, Tibetans and Christians.
1. Can the VP/HR provide an update on how the issue of live organ harvesting is being raised through diplomatic channels?
2. What is the latest on action taken to determine whether citizens of any EU Member States are travelling to China to have transplants from organs that have been harvested in such a way?
3. In the broader context of human rights violations and re-education camps, can she confirm whether any economic response is planned in the form of trade sanctions?