Following a debate on 26 March 2008, the European Parliament adopts, by 580 votes to 24 with 45 abstentions, a resolution firmly condemning the brutal repression visited by the Chinese security forces on Tibetan demonstrators and all acts of violence from whichever source that have taken place in Tibet. The resolution had been tabled for consideration in plenary by the EPP-ED, PES, ALDE, UEN, Greens/EFA and the GUE/NGL groups.

Parliament expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims. It refers to the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising against the Chinese administration that led to major demonstrations protesting against Chinese repression. Parliament recalls that, according to the Chinese authorities, 20 people died in the protests, but, according to other sources, more than 140 Tibetans died in those clashes, and dozens of others have been arrested. It calls on the Chinese Government to guarantee adequate medical care for injured Tibetans, and appeals to the authorities to treat detainees in accordance with international human rights law and to refrain from torture. All those who protested peacefully must be immediately released.

Parliament calls for an independent inquiry , under the auspices of the United Nations, into the recent riots and repression in Tibet. Members welcome the fact that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has called on the Tibetan people to protest non-violently and has rejected calls for Tibetan independence and instead proposed the middle way of genuine cultural and political autonomy and religious freedom. Parliament reaffirms its attachment to China 's territorial integrity . It regrets that the six sessions of talks between the Chinese authorities and the Dalai Lama have failed to achieve results, and call for a constructive dialogue to be opened without preconditions, with a view to reaching a comprehensive political agreement, including a sustainable solution with regard to the cultural and political autonomy of Tibet and religious freedom and true minority rights for the Tibetan people in other neighbouring Chinese provinces. Parliament expresses concern about the increasing economic marginalisation of the Tibetan people in Tibet, who are faced with a rising number of Chinese migrant workers coming into Tibet and taking Tibetan jobs and Tibetan land. It points to the gross discrimination in the education system, in which Tibetan children learn their native language as a second language.

Parliament criticises the discriminatory treatment of non-Han Chinese ethnic minorities. It urges China not to misuse the 2008 Olympic Games by arresting dissidents and human rights activists in order to prevent demonstrations and reports which the authorities view as embarrassing to them. Members endorse the statement by the Dalai Lama that the Olympic Games are a great opportunity for freedom for all the Chinese people. China is urged to stop judging Olympic athletes on the basis of their political views and threatening to ban them from the Olympic Games if they dissent from the Chinese Government's official position.

Pointing out that the Chinese Government appears to be blocking foreign websites inside China and censoring foreign television broadcasts about the situation in Tibet, Parliament calls on the Chinese authorities to open up Tibet to the media and diplomats. It urges the Chinese authorities to stop blocking news and information websites based abroad, and calls for the release of all journalists, internet users and cyber-dissidents detained in China for exercising their right to information.

In terms of EU action, Parliament calls on the Council, and in particular the Presidency, to ensure that the EU adopts a consistent common position and that decisions taken on the basis thereof are duly implemented. EU diplomatic representatives in Beijing should take the initiative of visiting the region in order to report back to the Council about the current situation. Parliament reiterates its call on the Council to appoint a special envoy for Tibetan issues in order to facilitate the dialogue between the parties and follow the negotiations once they are resumed. The EU Presidency-in-Office must strive to find a common EU position with regard to the attendance of the Heads of State and the EU High Representative at the Olympic Games opening ceremony, with the option of non-attendance in the event that there is no resumption of dialogue between the Chinese authorities and the Dalai Lama.

Lastly, Parliament looks forward to the Dalai Lama's visit to the European Parliament to address the plenary session scheduled for late 2008, and calls on its Conference of Presidents to explore the possibility of an earlier visit.

The House held a debate, following on the Council and Commission statements, on the situation in Tibet.

A motion for a resolution winding up this debate was due to be put to the vote on 10 April 2008.