EU officials are bracing for a critical week ahead, as several key events and negotiations are on the agenda. One of the discussions will revolve around the appointment of Spain's Nadia Calvino as the head of the European Investment Bank. Member states are also hoping to make progress with the European Parliament on a migration pact. Additionally, EU leaders will attend a bilateral summit in Beijing to rebalance the relationship with China. The week will culminate in a summit of EU leaders, where they will discuss a €50 billion package for Ukraine.
The upcoming EU-China Summit is expected to be a slightly frosty affair, as trade tensions and disputes overshadow the talks. The EU is considering action against China over a World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute regarding a Chinese embargo on Lithuanian exports. French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a level playing field with China and has pushed for a subsidies probe. The summit will focus on issues including trade, energy, and digital affairs. The EU will urge China to stop supporting Russia's war in Ukraine and to curtail the supply of technologies used by Russia to manufacture weapons. However, the outcomes of the summit may be limited, with the talks themselves being the only deliverable. Hungary's opposition to a proposed EU budget revision, which includes new aid for Ukraine, is currently a major obstacle. The EU-China relations have worsened in recent years, and the expectations for the summit should be modest. EU leaders will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and premier Li Qiang to address economic grievances. The EU seeks progress on issues such as data flows and market access, and wants China to crack down on Moscow's ability to circumvent sanctions. The EU is concerned about China's economic recovery and its potential to export more, threatening critical industries in Europe. The EU counts China as one of its most important trade partners. The EU officials will also discuss China's de-risking plans, which aim to reduce dependencies in industries such as pharmaceuticals and defense. China is expected to raise concerns about the EU's anti-subsidies investigation into Chinese electric vehicles. The EU aims to determine whether China has subsidized manufacturers and take necessary measures to level the playing field. The EU is also concerned about Chinese overcapacity in clean-energy technologies. The EU will demand that China does more to curb Moscow's ability to circumvent western sanctions. China's position on Russia's war against Ukraine is seen by the EU as leaning toward Russia's side. Chinese President Xi Jinping seeks to strengthen trade links with the European Union in an effort to reduce China's reliance on the US. Xi's goal is to establish strategic autonomy from Washington and counter the US's influence on global trade and investment flows.
Recent incidents of EU diplomats censoring criticism of China and its role in the COVID-19 pandemic are just rare public examples of a culture of self-censorship in EU diplomacy with China. The EU's foreign service, the European External Action Service (EEAS), delayed and altered a report on COVID-19 disinformation following pressure from Chinese diplomats. The EU's Beijing delegation accepted China's request to censor details about the Chinese origins of COVID-19 in exchange for the publication of an opinion article in the state-run China Daily newspaper. Research shows that the promotion of EU values, such as human rights and the rule of law, is largely absent from EU-China diplomacy. EU officials fear upsetting Chinese diplomats and believe that raising human rights issues would hinder cooperation. The failure to assert EU values with China could be seen as acceptance or legitimization of China's policies, which could have implications for global governance.
The European Union has called on China to stop human rights violations in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong. The EU delegation visited Tibet and met with Chinese officials, expressing concern about the 'very serious' human rights situation. The EU referred to reports of crackdowns on human rights defenders, lawyers, and journalists in China, urging China to investigate and stop human rights violations, including cases of unlawful detention, enforced disappearance, torture, and ill-treatment. China has dismissed the EU's calls to halt alleged human rights violations, criticizing 'double standards' and interference in internal affairs. Chinese officials said the EU should 'stop interfering in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights issues'. The EU also raised the case of the detained Swedish citizen Gui Minhai as well as the imprisoned Uyghur intellectuals Ilham Tohti, Gulshan Abbas, and Rahile Dawut.
In the latest round of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, China expressed hope that the EU will work with China in the same direction, upholding dialogue and cooperation instead of confrontation and pressuring, and jointly contributing to the international human rights cause. China protested against the China-related contents in the 2023 Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World and the annual reports on Hong Kong and Macao recently released by the EU. China refuted the EU's groundless accusations against China's judicial procedure, death penalty, labor rights, and issues related to ethnic groups and religions. China pointed out human rights issues that exist in EU countries, including racial discrimination, infringement on the rights of refugees and immigrants, restrictions on freedom of speech, religious hatred, judicial unfairness, and violence against women. Both sides believed that the dialogue was candid, profound, and conducive to better mutual understanding. They expressed readiness to explore cooperation in multilateral human rights areas concerning economic, social and cultural rights, women, children, and people with disabilities. China stands ready to conduct exchange and cooperation on human rights with the EU on the basis of equality and mutual respect to enhance mutual understanding and trust, broaden consensus, resolve differences, and make progress together. China firmly opposes politicizing human rights issues and double standards, imposing one's own development models on others, interfering in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights issues, and megaphone diplomacy on multilateral platforms. [40f5021c]
The European Union and the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini held their first Partnership Dialogue on July 4, 2024, covering international affairs, political and legislative matters, the rule of law, human rights, judicial matters, investment, business environment, development cooperation, climate change, and greening the economy. The meeting was co-chaired by EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Dessislava Choumelova, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Senator Pholile Shakantu. The EU side was joined by the Ambassadors of Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Spain, and senior diplomats representing Germany, Italy, and Portugal. The Government team included two other Cabinet Ministers, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo, and the Minister of Economic Planning and Development, Dr Tambo Gina, among others. The parties reiterated their commitments to the shared values of their partnership based on democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. The EU pledged its continued support to development initiatives in Eswatini, focusing on human development and social inclusion through skills and empowerment of youth and the most vulnerable. Ambassador Choumelova emphasized the importance of upholding human rights, the rule of law, and fighting corruption in her closing remarks.