Resolution on the case of Ai Weiwei

The European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the unjustifiable and unacceptable detention of the critic of the regime and internationally renowned artist, Ai Weiwei, who has not been seen since he was passing through security checks at Beijing airport on 3 April 2011.

The resolution was tabled by the ALDE, GUE/NGL, ECR, EPP, Greens/ALE, and S&D groups and Fiorello Provera (EFD).

It calls for Ai Weiwei's immediate and unconditional release, noting that police have refused to provide Ai Weiwei’s wife with information regarding the reason for his detention. Parliament expresses its solidarity with his peaceful actions and initiatives in favour of democratic reforms and the protection of human rights. Members stress that that Ai Weiwei's detention is characteristic of the widespread recent crackdown on human rights activists and dissidents in China, with numerous arrests, excessive prison sentences, increased personal surveillance and increased repressive restrictions on foreign reporters

Parliament calls on the VP/HR, Catherine Ashton, to continue to raise the issue of human rights violations at the very highest level in her contacts with the Chinese authorities, and report back on those cases to the European Parliament after the forthcoming high-level political dialogue between the EU and China, in which the VP/HR will participate. China’s human rights record remains a matter for serious concern, and Parliament emphasises the need to make a comprehensive assessment of the EU-China human rights dialogue, including the EU-China legal seminar on human rights, in order to judge the methodology applied and the progress achieved. The VP/HR is also asked to rethink that dialogue in order to make it effective and result-oriented, and to take all necessary steps for the swift organisation of the next human rights dialogue. Parliament takes the view that the development of EU-China relations must go hand in hand with the development of a genuine, fruitful and effective political dialogue and that respect for human rights should also be an integral part of the new framework agreement which is now being negotiated with China.

Furthermore, Members want Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with China to raise and thoroughly address the question of human rights violations with regard, in particular, to the cases listed in the resolution at the next inter-parliamentary meeting.

Lastly, Parliament recalls that China has been under a single party since 1949, and in this context of recent political development, and in view of the deteriorating human rights situation in China, it states that political parties in the EU should reconsider their relationships.