{"id":4858,"date":"2026-05-27T21:15:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T19:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eu4tibet.org\/?post_type=news&p=4858"},"modified":"2026-06-11T16:31:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T14:31:10","slug":"european-parliament-adopts-resolution-urging-china-to-repeal-ethnic-unity-law","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/eu4tibet.org\/el\/news\/european-parliament-adopts-resolution-urging-china-to-repeal-ethnic-unity-law\/","title":{"rendered":"European Parliament adopts resolution urging China to repeal \u201cEthnic Unity\u201d law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The European Parliament on 30 April adopted a resolution on China\u2019s new law on \u201cethnic unity\u201d, expressing grave concern over its impacts for the rights of ethnic groups including Tibetans, and warning its enforcement will carry \u201csevere consequences\u201d for EU-China relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adopted with a strong majority, the resolution urges China to repeal the law, which it says openly promotes assimilation policies and restricts the cultural, religious and linguistic freedoms of various groups. It also denounces its extraterritorial reach, calling on the EU and its Member States to protect those at risk of transnational repression arising from its provisions, and seeks targeted EU sanctions against those responsible for drafting and implementing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Tibet specifically, the text reaffirms the Parliament\u2019s rejection<\/strong><\/a> of China\u2019s interferences in the Dalai Lama\u2019s succession and calls for the immediate release of Tibetan political prisoners Choktrul Dorje Ten Rinpoche, Palden Yeshi and the 11th Panchen Lama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The result of the vote on the resolution in plenary on 30 April. (Photo: Screenshot from European Parliament Webcast)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Following the adoption of the resolution, scrutiny of the legislation in the European Parliament continued on 6 May with a dedicated exchange of views held by the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), in association with the Delegation for Relations with China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ICT President Tencho Gyatso, who was invited to contribute, spoke to MEPs about the impacts of the law on the rights and culture of Tibetans. Drawing on key findings from ICT\u2019s analysis<\/a> <\/strong>of the legislation, she explained how the law aims to erase Tibetan identity and promote policies which further assimilate Tibetans into a homogenous Chinese state. She also raised concerns about the law\u2019s extraterritorial reach on the many Tibetans living in exile, stating \u201cMy speaking here before you today could certainly be seen as contravening the Ethnic Unity Law, as could the presence of all of you in this room today.\u201d She concluded with several recommendations, including a call for the EU and its Member States to adopt a public statement denouncing the law, and to appoint an EU Special Representative for Tibet critical to effective coordination and coherence of EU policies on Tibet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ICT<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

ICT President Tencho Gyatso addressing the Subcommittee on Human Rights on 6 May. (Photo: ICT)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ahead of the 30 April vote, Members of the European Parliament debated the legislation in plenary, with speakers from across the political spectrum contrasting China\u2019s approach with Europe\u2019s own experience of cultural and linguistic diversity, stressing that the protection of ethnic identities is a core European value rather than a threat to be eliminated. \u201cOur main message is that enforcement of this law has inevitably to lead to severe consequences for EU-China relations, because it follows from the Treaty on the European Union that we must promote the protection of human rights and the respect to international law in our external relations,\u201d the Chair of the European Tibet Friendship Group Dainius \u017dalimas said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her remarks, EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib reiterated the EU\u2019s concern about the human rights situation in Tibet and its call on China to respect both its international and constitutional commitments. \u201cWhile one of the stated objectives of the law is that of promoting high-quality development in ethnic minority regions, let me recall that development can only be sustainable and inclusive when it respects the dignity, identity, and rights of all people and persons belonging to different communities,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The resolution \u2013 adopted under the European Parliament\u2019s urgency procedure, which allows for rapid debates and votes on urgent human rights, democracy and rule of law issues \u2013 comes shortly after eight UN Special Rapporteurs sent a communication<\/strong><\/a> to the Chinese authorities in which they expressed concerns about compatibility of the law with China\u2019s international human rights obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Chair of the European Parliament\u2019s Tibet Friendship Group MEP Dainus \u017dalimas speaking during the debate on 29 April. (Photo: Screenshot from European Parliament Webcast)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Other speakers on 6 May included Sarah Brooks, China Director at Amnesty International, who warned the law should be a wake-up call and that pursuing dialogue and cooperation with China should not come at the expense of accountability for serious and systemic human rights violations; and Kerry Brown, a Professor at London\u2019s King\u2019s College who provided broader historical perspective on the legislation. A representative from the European External Action Service \u2013 the diplomatic service of the European Union \u2013 also repeated the EU\u2019s concern over the law\u2019s consequences for the cultural, linguistic and religious rights of ethnic communities, underlining that the EU will monitor its implementation closely and raise these concerns with China both bilaterally and in international fora such as the UN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ICT had presented its analysis of the law at a meeting of the European Parliament\u2019s Tibet Friendship Group in March, and together with the Office of Tibet in Brussels had encouraged parliamentary action on the issue. We thank its members and other Members of the European Parliament for their role in prioritizing this issue on the parliamentary agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here to read the full resolution of the European Parliament.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here to watch the full hearing in DROI (from 10:35).<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can read the full speech of Tencho Gyatso here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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