The European Parliament yesterday decided to freeze the awaited ratification of the agreement reached by the European Union with China to regulate bilateral investments until Beijing abolishes the sanctions recently adopted, including against some MEPs.
The decision has been in the air since the European Commission itself warned a few days ago that it would not actively campaign for a quick ratification of the agreement.
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The resolution was approved with 599 votes in favor, 30 against and 58 abstentions. The stance came after a political backlash between Brussels and Beijing. The European Union decided earlier this year to introduce sanctions against China to protest the situation of the Muslim Uyghur minority in the Asian country (see Il Sole 24 Ore of 23 March). In response, Beijing has announced retaliation, even sanctioning some MEPs.
The text of the resolution approved yesterday afternoon in plenary session states that Chinese counter-sanctions are “arbitrary and unjustified”, without foundations in international law. Consequently, the European Parliament “makes its ratification of the investment agreement subject to the lifting of sanctions by the Chinese government” (see Il Sole 24 Ore of 31 December). “Sino-European relations cannot continue as if nothing had happened.”
«By deciding on the sanctions, China has done poorly. He should learn from his mistakes and think again. Due to the Chinese sanctions, the investment agreement has been put in the freezer, ”said Reinhard Bütikofer, a German green MEP who is subject to Chinese sanctions. Parliamentary resolutions are not binding, but in this case the position of the Parliament has a specific weight since it is up to the assembly to ratify the agreement.