During the plenary session (24-25 March 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, David SASSOLI, EP President makes an introductory remark at the resumption of session concerning China's sanctions against MEPs following EU criticism on alleged human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region. Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Greens/EFA, DE), one of the 5 blacklisted MEPs by China and Maria ARENA (S&D,BE), Chair of European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) make a statement on this situation. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Brussels

statement

plenary session

EU - China (T)

respect for human rights in the world (T)

ARENA, Maria (S&D, BE)

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

keynote speech

BÜTIKOFER, Reinhard (Greens/EFA, DE)

Introductory remark by David SASSOLI, EP President on China's sanctions against MEPs (following EU criticism on alleged human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region) and statements by Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Greens/EFA, DE) and Maria ARENA (S&D, BE)

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/3528405/I203382Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, Dear colleagues, the sanctions of China, on five colleagues of ours and the Subcommittee for Human Rights of the European Parliament, this really has affected parliament just because we were by the side of the victims of abuse and violations of human rights.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, We defended the freedom of expression and we played our role, which is the role of democratic control. Parliament is and will continue to be a convinced defender of human rights in the European Union, in the world.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, Human rights are universal. They are inalienable, and they're at the heart of the European Union. We would never be silenced by those who feel threatened by our institution and who try to punish members who have been democratically elected for having expressed their opinion.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, These sanctions on the part of the Chinese authorities are simply not acceptable and unacceptable response to our legitimate concerns regarding the situation relating to human rights in China.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, And I would like to express our support to the five colleagues and the union organisations who have been unfairly affected, and we would like to reassure our citizens, the parliament has not been frightened away and it will continue to defend human rights and the rule of law.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, And now I would like to pass the floor over to our colleague Bütikofer, who is chair of the delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China. And then I would like to pass the floor over to the chair. Maria Arena, Chair of the Subcommittee for Human Rights. So you have the floor.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, Well, let's do the opposite, then, let's pass it over to our chair. Maria Arena said that a colleague has time to turn on his microphone.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Greens/EFA, DE), Thank you President Sassoli for your clear, strong and courageous words. Your statement defends the honour of parliament against aggressive Chinese sanctions.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Greens/EFA, DE), You have highlighted the values on which our common work is based, in particular universal human rights. These convictions have never been more important than today. We as Democrats are united in their defence. I want to thank all the colleagues who have expressed their solidarity with those affected.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Greens/EFA, DE), I want to thank the two hundred and eighty one colleagues from four different political groups from the Bundestag that have expressed their solidarity. And I want to thank those governments that have summoned the Chinese ambassadors to tell them of.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Greens/EFA, DE), The Chinese sanctions signal this is an attack not just on a few, but on the institution as such, on our Human Rights Subcommittee on four of the biggest Democratic groups in the parliament and on the China delegation.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Greens/EFA, DE), Chinese authorities tell us that they're only willing to work with us as partners if we're allowing them to define the confines of acceptable opinions. It is bad enough that freedom of opinion, freedom of speech doesn't exist in China.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Greens/EFA, DE), We don't want to allow them to export it. China's attack on our institutions and fundamental values can be answered effectively if we all stick to two principles.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Greens/EFA, DE), Democrats need to have each other's back. And we internationally, we have to build a united front of democracies. Long live human rights. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, Thank you. Our chair Maria Arnena.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), Microphone please. Thank you president. As chair of the Subcommittee of the Human Rights, could I say the following:.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), We've taken note of the decision of the Chinese authorities to impose sanctions on our parliament and this by way of retaliation following the decision taken by the Council on the 22nd of March, which led to sanctions regarding four Chinese nationals who are guilty of serious violations of human rights.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), So it is our duty and our committee to follow the situation regarding human rights throughout the world and to protect all those who defend these rights and this in compliance with the European treaties.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), I would also like to emphasise that all the European institutions, be it the Commission, the Council, have the right and the obligation to observe these treaties, and I would also like to pay tribute to the work done by the high representative and the action regarding serious violations of human rights.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), His action here is has been proven very legitimate indeed, this Chinese decision is an attack on our democracy and our values, and it is a way of intimidating our colleagues and the work done by our Subcommittee for Human Rights.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), This sanction is simply not acceptable if the Chinese authorities believe that they are going to silence us, I can tell them right away that they are wrong. We will continue to make sure that the pro-democracy movement of Hong Kong's voice is heard.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), We will fight against those massive detention centres, forced labour and or violations. Of human rights, of the Gore community, we did this back in twenty nineteen by giving the Sakharov prise to a total U.S. representative of that community.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), We will continue to make sure that the defenders of human rights are threatened. Voice is heard, people who are threatened by the Chinese regime. We will condemn any Chinese attempt to interfere in the democratic life of the European Union and its member states.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), We will continue to denounce any violation of human rights, regardless of where these violations take place. And we will work so that all the institutions place on the agenda of all foreign affairs instruments, the question of human rights, it has to go back onto their agenda.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), And we know that the world at large looks towards Europe as a part of the globe which respects human rights. Even if sometimes some Europeans forget the meaning of this, it is our duty not to disappoint.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), We must not disappoint the European citizens we represent for whom human rights are a fundamental value. We must not disappoint the citizens of the world, the citizens who do not have the opportunity to express their opinions freely.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), They cannot express their beliefs or they can't simply love each other openly. So we are a beacon for the rest of the world. We are a the light. We are we represent hope. We must not abandon them. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (Original), David SASSOLI, EP President, Grazie. Grazie. Thank you.