China and the European Parliament are “in the final stages” of lifting retaliatory penalties Beijing placed on a few legislators in 2021, a contentious action that led to the breakdown of a crucial investment agreement. The proposal coincides with mounting rumours of a new beginning in EU-China ties, fuelled by Donald Trump’s divisive tactics that have enraged both allies and enemies and forced countries to look for new alliances.
“Discussions with the Chinese authorities are continuing and in their final stages,” a Parliament official said in a statement. “It has always been the European Parliament’s intention to have the sanctions lifted and resume relations with China.” Leaders of the political groupings will be notified “once the Chinese authorities officially confirm that sanctions have been lifted,” the spokeswoman said, following discussions headed by Roberta Metsola, president of the Parliament.
A request for comment was not immediately answered by the Chinese Mission to the EU. When the 27 member states decided to impose sanctions on four Chinese individuals and one organisation for allegedly violating the human rights of the Uyghur Muslin minority in the Xinjiang region in March 2021, the political battle began. Beijing retaliated with tit-for-tat restrictions, focussing on four organisations and 10 European citizens, including five MEPs.
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