MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the caseof the missing book publishers in Hong Kong

2.2.2016 - (2016/2558(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure

Charles Tannock, Mark Demesmaeker, Angel Dzhambazki, Anna Elżbieta Fotyga, Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Ryszard Czarnecki, Tomasz Piotr Poręba, Monica Macovei, Jana Žitňanská, Valdemar Tomaševski, Arne Gericke, Roberts Zīle, Beatrix von Storch on behalf of the ECR Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0175/2016

B8‑0189/2016

European Parliament resolution on the caseof the missing book publishers in Hong Kong

(2016/2558(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the EU and China as of 6 May 1975,

 

– having regard to the EU-China Strategic Partnership launched in 2003,

 

– having regard to the EU-China 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation agreed on 21 November 2013,

 

– having regard to the structured EU-China political dialogue formally established in 1994 and the High‑Level Strategic Dialogue on strategic and foreign policy issues established in 2010, in particular the 5th EU-China High Level Strategic Dialogue held in Beijing on 6 May 2015,

 

– having regard to the negotiations for a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement which have been ongoing since 2007,

 

– having regard to the negotiations for a Bilateral Investment Agreement that were started in January 2014,

 

– having regard to the Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament of 24 October 2006 entitled ‘EU – China: Closer partners, growing responsibilities’ (COM(2006)0631),

 

– having regard to the adoption of the new national security law by the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress of 1 July 2015,

 

– having regard to the EU-China dialogue on human rights launched in 1995 and the 32nd round held in Beijing on 8-9 December 2014,

 

– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 16 December 1966,

 

– having regard to the most recent EP-China interparliamentary meeting, which took place on 26 November 2013,

 

– having regard to the statement of 7 January 2016 by the EEAS Spokesman on the issue of the missing book publishers in Hong Kong

 

– having regard to its resolution on EU-China relations of 16 December 2015,

 

– having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,

 

 

A.  whereas the Chinese Government acknowledges the importance and the universality of human rights, but is lacking in tangible results as regards improving its human rights record;

B.  whereas China has officially and nominally accepted the universality of human rights and in the past three decades has opted into the international human rights framework by signing a wide range of human rights treaties, and has thus become part of the international legal and institutional human rights framework;

C.  whereas at the beginning of 2015 President Xi publicly announced his intention of extending the rule of law throughout the country, out of a conviction that effective justice is essential for a modern economy and society in China;

D.  whereas the EU and China have engaged in human rights dialogues since 1995;

E. whereas the continuing lack of information about the well-being and whereabouts of five Hong Kong residents (Lui Bo, Gui Minhai, Zhang Zhiping, Lin Rongji and Lee Po) associated with the publishing house Mighty Current is extremely worrying;

F. whereas two of the missing Hong Kong residents, Gui Minhai and Lee Po, are EU citizens, Swedish and British respectively;

1. Notes that under the leadership of President Xi, the Chinese government is showing a growing assertiveness both internally and externally; points out that the country’s civil rights activists, lawyers, journalists, bloggers, academics and other representatives of civil society are now finding their freedom curbed in a way that has not been seen for years; observes that China’s human rights record remains a matter of serious concern;

2. Believes that strong ongoing EU-China relations must provide an effective platform for a mature, meaningful and open human rights dialogue based on mutual respect;

3.  Calls for the commitments made during the March 2014 visit of President Xi to Brussels to deepen exchanges between the EU and China on human rights issues to be matched by tangible improvements in the situation on the ground;

4. Notes that it would be a violation of the Basic Law if mainland law enforcement agencies had been operating in Hong Kong, believes this would be inconsistent with the ‘one country two systems’ principle.

5. Calls on the relevant authorities in China and Hong Kong to investigate and clarify the circumstances of the disappearances in conformity with the rule of law and, to the extent possible, assist in bringing back the publishers home safely;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the European External Action Service, the Member States and the relevant authorities of China and Hong Kong.