MEPs approved - by 585 votes to 46 with 41 abstentions - a motion for a resolution calling on the EU to actively support the people of Hong Kong on Thursday 20 January. In this text, they ask the Commission and the EU Council to “refuse invitations to government representatives and diplomats to attend the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, given that the Chinese government has not demonstrated any tangible improvement in the human rights situation in Hong Kong, Macao, the Uighur region of Xinjiang, Tibet and elsewhere in China”.
Miriam Lexmann (EPP, Slovakia), on 19 January, had stressed the need for action: “While I’m glad this house delivered a strong message, it must be followed by concrete actions”. She also underlined the need to support Lithuania in the light of Chinese coercive actions. “It is imperative that we speak out clearly in defence of our EU single market”, she added.
Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens/EFA, Germany) said that he regretted the EU Council's hesitation on this issue.
See the motion for a resolution: https://bit.ly/3rClXrI (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)