At the 40th human rights dialogue between the European Union and China on Friday 13 June in Brussels, the EU reiterated its deep concern about the continuing deterioration of fundamental freedoms in China.
In particular, it highlighted the persistent restrictions on freedom of expression, religion and peaceful assembly, as well as the erosion of the Rule of law and the lack of judicial independence.
The EU has also expressed concern about the use of forced labour, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment.
Particular attention has been paid to the rights of minorities, especially religious minorities. The EU stressed that “the selection of religious leaders should happen without government interference and in accordance with religious norms”, including for the succession of the Dalai Lama (see EUROPE 13636/19).
The EU then mentioned several emblematic individual cases, such as the Uyghurs Ilham Tohti, Gulshan Abbas, Rahile Dawut and the activists Hushtar Isa and Yalkun Isa (see EUROPE 13501/12).
More broadly, it called for transparency, the abolition of the death penalty and compliance with China’s reporting obligations to all relevant United Nations treaty bodies.
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and agreed to continue the dialogue, with the next session scheduled to take place in China in 2026. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)