Verbatim report of proceedings

Thursday, 7 September 2006 - Strasbourg

7.2. EU-China relations (vote)

- after the vote on paragraph 53:

  Charles Tannock (PPE-DE). – Mr President, I would like to propose the following oral amendment: ‘Calls upon the Chinese authorities to reveal the whereabouts of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng and to release him unless he is to be charged with a recognised criminal offence; similarly calls for the release of Chen Guangcheng, who has helped citizens in their attempts to sue their local authorities for carrying out forced abortions and sterilisations, and of Bu Dongwei, who has been assigned to two and a half years of “Re-education through Labour” (RTL) and who is detained at an undisclosed location; therefore urges the authorities to ensure that all human rights defenders can carry out peaceful and legitimate activities without fear of arbitrary arrest, torture or ill-treatment and that they be given access to proper legal representation in the event of arrest;’.

(The oral amendment was accepted)

- After the vote on Amendment 2

  Hannes Swoboda (PSE). – (DE) Mr President, we too would have been happy to endorse this important report on China, but, as it does not accept the ‘one China – two systems’ concept, we cannot vote to approve it. Since, however, it does voice many justified concerns about human rights, we will not be voting against it, but will abstain from voting.

  Georg Jarzembowski (PPE-DE). – (DE) Mr President, in order to nip a potential myth in the bud, let me say that this House, by a large majority, adopted Amendment 33, which would appear to make reference to that concept, so your justification, Mr Swoboda, is wrong, and you ought to vote for the report.

(Applause)

  President. – We are not going to re-open the debate and we shall proceed with the vote.

- After the vote on the entire motion for a resolution

President. – Mrs Muscardini, in relation to which article of the Rules of Procedure do you wish to take the floor?

  Cristiana Muscardini (UEN). – (IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the Rules of Procedure say that explanations of vote shall take place after voting and not before. If we must change the Rules of Procedure, I am all for it, but the rule should apply to all the groups and not just to some of them.

  President. – I shall take due note of that, Mrs Muscardini.