China has lifted sanctions against five Europarliamentarians and the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced on Wednesday.
The sanctions had been imposed in March 2021 in response to EU sanctions against Beijing over the oppression of China's Uyghur minority.
They also targeted other individuals, such as Belgian parliamentarian Samuel Cogolati (Ecolo), who had submitted a resolution to label the treatment of the Uyghurs as genocide. Cogolati said the sanctions against him remain in place.
Sanctioned individuals were prohibited from travelling to China, Hong Kong or Macau. They, and associated organisations, were also banned from doing business with China.
In reaction to the sanctions, the European Parliament halted the ratification of the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, which aimed to put EU companies on an equal footing in China.
Metsola said in a press release following her announcement, made at a meeting of European Parliament party leaders, that it was her duty to ensure that all members of Parliament could fulfil their mandate freely, without restrictions.
“Our parliamentary committees must be able to discuss European interests with their Chinese counterparts without fear of repercussions,” she stressed.
Recent weeks have seen China and the European Union seek closer ties amid a tariff war sparked by US President Donald Trump, with escalating tensions between Beijing and Washington involving US tariffs reaching up to 145%.
The lifting of the sanctions paves the way for trade talks between the EU and China. However, party leaders emphasised that lifting the sanctions did not mean the European Parliament would overlook the “ongoing challenges in EU-China relations.”
They stressed that the European Parliament remained a strong advocate for universal human rights and fundamental values worldwide, while seeking principled and clear dialogue with its partners.
Metsola, too, noted that the relationship with China remains complex and multifaceted. The best way to handle it is through engagement and dialogue, she said.
