Brussels: China has lifted sanctions on several members of the European Parliament and the body’s subcommittee on human rights, a move seen as part of Beijing’s broader effort to ease tensions and revive stalled engagement with the European Union. The announcement was made by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Wednesday.
The sanctions, imposed in 2021, were originally a retaliatory response to Western measures against Chinese officials over alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang, where Beijing has faced international criticism for the mass detention of Uyghur Muslims. Among those sanctioned were four current Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), along with a total of 10 individuals.
“Our parliamentary committees must be able to discuss European interests with their Chinese counterparts without fear of repercussions,” Metsola said in a statement.
“Our relationship with China remains complex and multi-faceted. The best way to approach it is through engagement and dialogue,” she added.
The Chinese sanctions had barred the targeted individuals and their families from entering China, and prohibited any business dealings between them, their organizations, and Chinese entities. In response, the European Parliament froze the ratification of the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI), which had aimed to grant European companies greater access to the Chinese market.
Beijing appears increasingly motivated to improve ties with the European Union as it seeks to offset mounting trade pressure from the United States, including broad tariffs affecting much of its export sector.
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Asked earlier about the anticipated easing of sanctions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated during a press conference, “The economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe is complementary and mutually beneficial.”
He added, “The legislative bodies of China and the EU are an important part of China-EU relations, and we hope that the two sides will meet each other halfway and strengthen exchanges,” before emphasizing, “Members of the European Parliament are welcome to visit China more often.”
However, the gesture was not all-encompassing. Notably, Reinhard Bütikofer, a former German Green MEP who had been sanctioned in 2021, remains on the list. Bütikofer acknowledged the lifting of sanctions on his former colleagues but criticized the Parliament’s leadership for not pushing harder to secure the removal of all restrictions.
While the partial lifting of sanctions signals a diplomatic thaw, unresolved sanctions on members of civil society, think tanks, and other parliamentary figures suggest that full normalization of EU-China relations is still some distance away.
