David SASSOLI, EP President, meets with Members of the Parliament blacklisted by China in response to Brussels’ sanctions on alleged human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region (Uyghurs). He reiterated his support to the MEPs and to the other EU individuals and bodies hit by the Chinese sanctions.

Brussels

meeting

EU - China (T)

respect for human rights in the world (T)

GAHLER, Michael (EPP, DE)

ARENA, Maria (S&D, BE)

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

LEXMANN, Miriam (EPP, SK, EPP, SK)

David SASSOLI, EP President, meets with MEPs blacklisted by China in response to sanctions on alleged human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region: arrivals, roundtable and statements

Title: David SASSOLI, EP President, meets with MEPs blacklisted by China in response to sanctions on alleged human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region: arrivals, roundtable and statements

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE) and Miriam LEXMANN (EPP, SK), two of the 5 members sanctionned by China. And with Maria ARENA (S&amp;D, BE), Chair of the EP Sub Committee on Human Rights (2 shots)

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, China's sanctions on EU parliamentarians and EU bodies is unacceptable and will certainly have consequences. For us, the defense of human rights is not only enshrined in our treaties but is a principle that we want to strongly defend. We need to restore the truth and above all to guarantee people fundamental freedoms.

SOUNDBITE (English), Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE), I think these measures, these sanctions are unfortunate as they block the possibility for dialogue, to talk the things that we deplore in China. I think we will for sure stay with our principles as the president said. We will not be intimidated. We will continue to demand what is the obligation of China with regard to its membership in the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It's a reaction to the sanctions of the European Union. And it's about China to end this practise towards this Uyghurs minority that we will be very step fast.

SOUNDBITE (French), Maria ARENA (S&amp;D, BE), First of all, I would like to thank President Sassoli for the solidarity he expresses towards the Members who are effectively sanctioned, but also towards the Commission which works on this question of human rights. In the European Parliament, we have the possibility of controlling, of following the various policies and foreign policy is an important policy which, and I would say, also carried out with the question of respect for human rights.

SOUNDBITE (French), Maria ARENA (S&amp;D, BE), The work that we do in the Commission on Human Rights aims to identify the difficulties, but also to be able to enter into dialogue and to bring the countries which, today, are in violation to resolve a certain number of problems. China's response today is more of an intimidating response to European authorities. And once again, thank you Mr Sassoli for the unity within the European Parliament and also the fact that we will not stop working on these human rights issues because it is the very principle of the Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Miriam LEXMANN (EPP, SK), There are lots of issues which are making us diverse and we do not have a similar opinions on everything but the basic human rights which are enshrined in the Declaration of Human Rights is something we all have to come with and support. And China is violating the basic human rights. And I think this is our moral duty to stand for support of those people whose rights are violated in China, but also elsewhere in the world.

SOUNDBITE (English), Miriam LEXMANN (EPP, SK), I was born in a communist Czechoslovakia and my predecessors have fought and lost their lives or years in prison for my freedom today. And I think it is my moral duty to support people who are fighting for their rights and their freedom elsewhere in the world. And I I believe that these sanctions against us must unite us as the European Union to be stronger in our support of human rights and not to step back in any pressure coming from China. And it's not only China, but it's in many different countries around the world.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, The European Parliament and the European institutions are not intimidated.