Activities of Julia PITERA related to 2017/2274(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
State of EU-China relations (debate) PL
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the state of EU-China relations PDF (466 KB) DOC (107 KB)
Amendments (40)
Amendment 3 #
– having regard to the over 60 sectoral dialogues between China and the EUthe EU and China,
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20
Citation 20
– having regard to the EU-China-EU Round Tables,
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital –A (new)
Recital –A (new)
-A. whereas the EU is China’s biggest trading partner, while China is the EU’s second largest trading partner;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital –A a (new)
Recital –A a (new)
-Aa. whereas the EU expects its relationship with China to be one of reciprocal benefit in both political and economic terms; whereas the EU also expects China to assume responsibilities in line with its global impact and to support the rules-based international order from which it, too, benefits;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the 19th EU-China Summit in 2017 advanced a bilateral strategic partnership, which has a global impact, and highlighted joint commitments to addressing global challenges, such as climate change, common security threats and the promotingon of multilateralism, peacekeeping and peace-building;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, largely unnoticed in Europe, China has been rapidly and systematically increasing its influence through strategic infrastructure investments and transport links and influencing European political and economic decision- makers, media, academics and the wider public, by building up ‘networks’ of supportive European individuals across societies;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the so called 16+1 format between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEE) was established in 2012 in the aftermath of the financial crisis and as part of Chinese sub-regional diplomacy; whereas Chinese investmenta plans to commit substantial funds in those countries are wide-ranging;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), including 'China's Arctic Policy', published on 26 January 2018, is the most ambitious foreign policy initiative the country has ever adopted; whereas at the 16+1 summit held in late December 2017, China pledged to invest USD 3 billion in infrastructure in the 16 CEE countries as part of the BRI; whereas the Chinese infrastructure projects will create large debts for the European governments to Chinese state-owned banks and few jobs in Europe, and are often awarded without transparent tenders;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the most ambitious foreign policy initiative the country has ever adopted; whereas at the 16+1 summit held in late December 2017, China pledged to invest USD 3 billion in infrastructure in the 16 CEE countries as part of the BRI; whereas the Chinese infrastructure projects willpose risk of createing large debts for the European governments to Chinese state- owned banks andoffering loans on non- transparent terms and create few jobs in Europe, and are often awarded without transparent tenders;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas China introduced term limits in the 1980s in response to the regime of Mao Zedong; whereas on 11 March 2018 the National People’s Congress (NPC) voted with an overwhelming majority in favour of abrogating the limit of two consecutive terms for the posts of President and Vice- President of the People's Republic of China; whereas the abolition of the constitutional limit of two terms is a move to cement the process of structural change;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the new regulations on religious affairs that took effect on 1 February 2018 are more restrictive towards religious groups and activities; whereas the new rules threaten persons associated with religious communities that do not have legal status in the country with the imposition of fines when they travel abroad for the purpose of religious education, in the broad sense, and even more so for pilgrimages, which are subject to fines amounting to a multiple of the lowest salary; whereas religious freedom has reached a new low since the start of the economic reforms and the opening up of China in the late 1970s;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the new regulations on religious affairs that took effect on 1 February 2018 are more restrictive towards religious groups and activities; whereas religious freedom has reached a new low since the start of the economic reforms and the opening up of China in the late 1970s; whereas Christians have been facing increasing repression in China with both underground and state sanctioned churches being targeted through the harassment and detention of believers, the demolition of churches and the crackdown on Christian gatherings;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas the situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, home to ten million Muslim Uygurs, has rapidly deteriorated in recent years, in particular under the rule and tightened security measures of the current president with the establishment of an extrajudicial detention program holding tens of thousands of people who are forced to receive political 're-education', as well as the development of a sophisticated network of invasive digital surveillance, mass deployment of police, strict restrictions on religious practices, the Uyghur language and customs;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas no progress has been made in the resolution of the Tibetan crisis in the last few years as the last round of peace talks took place in 2010; whereas the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Tibet has led to an increase of self-immolation cases with a total number of 156 since 2009;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)
Recital J b (new)
Jb. whereas the Chinese authorities security's approach to Tibet is impacting negatively the human rights of Tibetans; whereas the surveillance and control measures have been increasing over the past few years as well as arbitrary detentions, acts of torture and ill- treatment;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reasserts that the EU-China Strategic Partnership is one of the most important partnerships for the EU and that it still has much more potential for being deepened furtherthere is still a great deal more potential for deepening this relationship and for further cooperation in the international arena;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the High Representative's and European Commission's Joint Communication "Elements for a new EU Strategy on China", together with the Council conclusions of 18 July 2016, provide the policy framework for EU engagement with China over the coming years;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Underlines that the Council has concluded that in conducting their relations with China, Member States, the High Representative and the Commission will co-operate to ensure consistency with EU law, rules and policies, and that the overall outcome is beneficial for the EU as a whole;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Emphasises that cooperation with China is crucial to address global and regional challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, non- proliferation, counter-terrorism, energy security, cyber-security, migration, combatting the destruction of cultural heritage sites and the looting and trafficking of illegal antiquities, deforestation and wildlife trafficking;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Stresses that the EU’s engagement with China should be principled, practical and pragmatic, staying true to its interests and values, and based on a positive agenda of partnership coupled with the constructive management of differences;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 e (new)
Paragraph 1 e (new)
1e. Stresses that reciprocity, a level playing field and fair competition across all areas of cooperation should be strengthened;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the EU Member States to urgently and decisively step up collaboration and unity on their China policies, with a view to speaking with one voice including in the UN fora, and strongly suggests taking advantage of Europe’s much greater collective bargaining power with China, and that Europe defends its free democracies so as to better face up to China’s systematic efforts to influence its politicians and civil society, in order to shape an opinion more conducive to China’s strategic interests; is concerned that China is also attempting to influence educational and academic institutions and their curricula; proposes that the EU and the Member States foster high-quality European think tanks on China in order to ensure the availability of independent expert advice for strategic orientations and decision-making;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that the Council has underlined that the promotion of human rights and the rule of law will continue to be a core part of the EU's engagement with China; expresses its concern about the ongoing detention and harassment of human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists and labour rights defenders and their families; underlines that the EU at the 35th round of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue emphasised the deteriorating situation for civil and political rights in China, including restrictions on the freedom of expression; calls on China to act upon the issues raised at the Human Right Dialogue, to fulfil its international obligations and to respect its own constitutional safeguards to upholding the rule of law;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Welcomes the outcome of the 4th EU-China High Level People-to-People Dialogue that took place on 13-14 November 2017 in Shanghai; stresses that the High Level People-to-People Dialogue should help build mutual trust and consolidate intercultural understanding between EU and China;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Hopes that this sub-regional cooperation framework will be kept as transparent as possible by inviting representatives of the EU institutions to 16+1 meetings and keeping the EU institutions fully briefed about its activities; calls on its participants to envisage further measures dissipating concerns regarding the impact of this format on EU coherence;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes the Chinese interest in strategic infrastructure investments in Europe; underlines the need for cooperation with China on its "One Belt, One Road" initiative on the basis of China fulfilling its declared aim of making it an open platform which adheres to market rules, EU and international requirements and standards, and complements EU policies and projects, in order to deliver benefits for all parties concerned and in all the countries along the planned routes;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Welcomes the set-up of the EU- China connectivity platform, established in 2015, to create new synergies between the EU trans-European transport network (TEN-T) projects and China's “One Belt One Road” initiative; notes with satisfaction that several infrastructure projects have been identified which should be implemented on the basis of key principles such as promotion of economic-social and environmentally sustainable projects, geographic balance between regions, level-playing field among investors and project promoters as well as transparency in the project list;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Calls on Member States acting with China bilaterally or within sub- regional cooperation networks, to ensure that the improvement of infrastructure links between the EU and Asia are in line with EU policies and legislation;
Amendment 176 #
5. Notes with concern that the NPC during its last session cemented president Xi Jinping’s position of power and increased the control of the party organs over the state apparatus;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that the creation of the National Supervisory Commission, whose legal status is equal to that of the courts and the public prosecutor, is probably the most drastic step towards morphing party and state functions, as it will merge the leadership and functions of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Internal Central Disciplinary Commission with those of supervisory bodies at state level; is concerned about the far-ranging consequences of this merger for a large number of people, as it means that the CCP’s anti-corruption campaign can be expanded to prosecute not just party members but all state officials, and all suspects under investigation will be subject to the new commission’s legal proceedings, without having access to civil lawyers and civil courts;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Observes that while the Social Credit System is still under construction, blacklists of non-compliant individuals and legal entities, as well as ‘red lists’ for outstanding individuals and companies, form the core of the current stage of implementation, whereby the main focus is on punishing offenders on the blacklists and rewarding those on the red lists; notes that in early 2017, China's Supreme People's Court stated that more than six million Chinese nationals had been banned from flying as a result of social misdeeds; firmly rejects the public naming and shaming of blacklisted persons as an integral part of the Social Credit System; underlines the importance and necessity of a dialogue between the EU Institutions and their Chinese counterparts on all serious societal consequences of the present central planning and local experiments with the Social Credit System;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Notes with grave concern the shrinking space for civil society, academics, human rights defenders, lawyers and bloggers in China; firmly condemns the harassment, arbitrary arrest and prosecution of human rights defenders without due process including foreign nationals both in mainland China and abroad; regrets the restrictions imposed on NGOs that are inconsistent with the right to freedom of association, opinion and expression;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Urges China to review its policies in Tibet, which far from creating stability are only heightening tensions, as highlighted by the over 150 self- immolations in Tibet since 2009; calls for the resumption of a constructive dialogue based on the Middle Way Approach between the Chinese Government and the representatives of the Dalai Lama namely the Central Tibetan Administration; urges China to give EU diplomats, journalists and citizens unfettered access to Tibet in reciprocity to the free and open access to the entire territories of the EU Member States that Chinese travellers enjoy; calls on the Chinese authorities to allow Tibetans in Tibet to travel freely and to respect their right to freedom of movement; urges the EU Institutions to take the issue of access to Tibet into serious consideration in the discussions on the EU-China visa facilitation agreement;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Chinese government to investigate the ongoing cases of enforced disappearances, torture and ill- treatment of Tibetans and to respect their rights to freedom of association, peaceful assembly, freedom of religion and belief in line with international human rights standards; urges the Chinese authorities to allow independent observers including the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to access Tibet;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Welcomes China’s aim to develop into a sustainable economy; stresses that the EU can support China’s economic reform programme with its know-how; underlines that China is a key partner for the EU with regard to tackling climate change and global environmental challenges; aims to work together with China to speed up the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Takes positive note that the EU policy on China forms part of a rounded policy approach to the Asia-Pacific region, taking full advantage, and full account of the EU's close relations with partners such as the United States, Japan, Korea, the ASEAN countries, Australia and New Zealand;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Reminds China of its international obligations and responsibilities in terms of contributing to peace and global security, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Stresses that tensions in the South China Sea constitute a threat and a risk to security and stability in the region; underlines that the European Union and its Member States, as contracting parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), acknowledge the Award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal; reiterates its call on China to accept the Tribunal’s award; underlines that the EU would like to maintain the international order based upon the rule of law; reminds at the same time that the EU does not take any position on sovereignty aspects relating to claims;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Welcomes China’s contributions to United Nations and African Union peacekeeping; remarks that the EU aims to reinforce its engagement with China on foreign policy and security issues by encouraging China to mobilise its diplomatic and other resources to support international security, and to contribute to peace and security in the EU’s neighbourhood based on international law; notes that the cooperation with China in the field of export control, disarmament, non-proliferation issues and the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula is essential to ensure stability in the East Asia region;