Strasbourg, 12/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - On the day of the proclamation of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights (see other article), the MEPs, during a debate at the plenary session held in Strasbourg on Wednesday 12 December, decried the poor progress made in the field of human rights in China. Benita Ferrero-Waldner drew up a qualified inventory of human rights dialogue. The Commissioner for External Relations reported that the European and Chinese leaders had held a “sincere and in-depth exchange of views” on this subject at the recent EU/China Summit, held in Beijing in November. Although she spoke of substantial progress in the field of social and economic rights, Ms Ferrero-Waldner stated nonetheless that she remained “concerned at the situation in general, particularly in the field of civil rights and fundamental freedoms such as the freedoms of expression, faith, association, minority rights and access to information”. However, she said that she was convinced of the importance of the dialogue on human rights, which, she stated, provides “an important forum on which both sides can get across their mutual concerns”.
The MEPs did not beat about the bush in expressing their dissatisfaction towards the Chinese authorities. This dissatisfaction was particularly strong as, once it was chosen to host the 29th Olympic Games next August, China had promised to make substantial progress in the field of human rights. “The problem is that dialogue has not been borne out by tangible progress. The first article of the Olympic Charter reiterates ethical principles. This means that we cannot consider China as an acceptable host”, said the UK member Edward McMillan-Scott, speaking on behalf of the EPP-ED group. His Liberal Democrat countryman Graham Watson was no less harsh: “these attacks against the freedom of expression violate the Olympic Charter and the contract which the Chinese authorities signed with the Olympic Committee. We would have no other choice than to boycott Beijing as we did with South Africa during the time of apartheid”, said the President of the Liberal group (ALDE), calling on Beijing to “prove the legitimacy of its hosting of the Olympic Games, in the eyes of the world”. “Forced abortion, torture, problems for the Catholic Church to express itself and for the disciples of the Falun Gong… Only recently, the only faults of certain people had been to meet with Mr McMillan-Scott and since then, they have disappeared: the decision is quite simple, boycott the Beijing Olympic Games”, said the Polish member Konrad Szymañski, on behalf of the UEN group. Voicing indignation on behalf of the Greens at a “promise of openness forsworn” and at an “increase in deteriorations of human rights” in China, the French member Hélène Flautre spoke out at the “perverse effects of the hosting of the Olympic Games”, such as the fact that the head of the security office in Beijing is also responsible for the organisation of the event. The Lithuanian member Laima Liucija Andrikiene (EPP-ED) called on Beijing to abandon its list of 42 categories of undesirable people in the eyes of the Chinese authorities, at the occasion of the summer Olympic Games.
Many of the MEPs also criticised certain leaders and European States for their lack of rigour towards Beijing. Of these, Graham Watson spoke out against the attitude of the President of the European Council, José Socrates and of the President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, who, after the Beijing Summit, left it up to high-ranking civil servants to put the finishing touches to the final joint declaration which, he said “undermined all talk of rigour” from High Representative Javier Solana one month earlier. “The European leaders gave in by refusing to confront Beijing with the problem of human rights. Mr Socrates spoke of a lack of time, this is deplorable”, added Portuguese member Ana Maria Gomes (PES). “In Paris, we see the French President Sarkozy signing contracts with a dictator who has supported terrorism (the Libyan Mouammar Gadaffi: Ed), in Lisbon, the European leaders receive a tyrant (the Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe) and in Beijing, Mr Sarkozy, Mr Socrates and Mr Barroso hold a most courteous discussion with the Chinese leaders”, said the Belgian member Koenraad Dillen (independent). “The German Chancellor Angela Merkel has met the Dalai Lama. When he came to see us (in Strasbourg: Ed), Mr Sarkozy said that the defence of human rights should be at the heart of our fight. A few days later, he visits China and does not raise the issue with the Chinese authorities”, said German member Helga Trüpel (Greens). Her Spanish colleague Raül Romeva i Rueda said that it is “unacceptable that certain European countries are succumbing to pressure from Beijing not to meet people like the Dalai Lama, thereby avoiding sabotaging commercial contracts”. “Ms Merkel met the Dalai Lama, it would be a good thing for France, Belgium and others do the same”, added their German colleague Milan Horaèek. The Austrian Socialist Hannes Swoboda stressed that “it is in China's interest for these rights to be respected, if it wants stability”. The European Parliament will vote on resolution on the subject this Thursday. (E.H.)