Activites

• 1997/06/30 Final act published in Official Journal
• 1997/06/12 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T4-0321/1997 summary

    In adopting the report by Mr Edward McMillan-Scott (EPP, UK) on relations between China and Europe, Parliament calls on the Council and Commission to enter into direct negotiations with the authorities of the People's Republic of China as soon as possible with a view to signature of the framework economic and trade cooperation agreement at a level that reflects the potential of relations between the European Union and the People's Republic of China subject to the traditional human rights clause and the possibility of suspending it in the event that these essential values are not respected. It confirms its wish to see China a full member of the World Trade Organization and calls on the Commission to submit a six-monthly evaluation of developments there regarding human rights respect for international economic instruments and the situation regarding trade between the two parties. - Regarding cooperation it calls, 1. on China: . to legislate on the right of establishment of NGOs within its territory, . to support fully international environmental initiatives, . to undertake a programme of legislative reforms compatible with development and a market economy (freedom of movement of persons etc.) and to provide guarantees for the rights of foreign investors, . to introduce a constitutional democracy based on universal principles including the rule of law, freedom of opinion, freedom of association, respect for and protection of privacy, integrity of the person, the right to a fair trial, the right to own sell and fructify agricultural holdings; 2. on the Union: . to develop special programmes for environmental cooperation in order to limit environmental pollution and the environmental impact of the developing Chinese industrial industry, . to establish schemes for legal cooperation (such as the training of lawyers and judges) and to intensify its programme of education and cultural exchanges, . to establish vocational training schemes in areas such as compliance with environmental law, information technology etc., . to support the establishment in Beijing of an office representing the commercial interests of the EU and to develop the Code of Conduct covering economic and social aspects for EU companies doing business in China, . to set up a task force to assist in the development of China's internal market according to the principle of sustainable development. - Concerning international affairs, Parliament deplores the role played by China in the development of nuclear arms in Pakistan and calls on it to cease its support for the Burmese military junta. In particular, it urges China to impose a total ban on anti-personnel mines and sees no justification for the lifting of the EU arms embargo imposed on China in 1989. It also notes with concern the 'strategic alliance' with Russia which may lead to unprecedented arms sales to China and calls on China to have recourse to the mechanisms of the UN to resolve regional territorial and sovereignty problems. - Concerning respect for human rights Parliament calls on China: . to sign without reservations the international covenant on civil and political rights, . to abolish the death penalty and proclaim forthwith a moratorium on executions, . to release all political prisoners, . to allow Wei Jingsheng, the winner of the Sakharov prize to be received by the European Parliament, . to repeal its laws that are incompatible with the development of a State governed by the rule of law and respect for individual rights, . to expand cooperation with international human rights organizations, . to accept the Dalai Lama's proposal concerning recognition of the cultural and religious autonomy of the Tibetan people and its right to self government, . to improve Chinese labour standards to bring them into line with international rules. In addition, it calls on the Commission to open investigations into forced labour and prison labour in China. - Concerning Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, Parliament insists on the full implementation of bilateral agreements on Hong Kong and Macao and resolves to monitor closely the situation in these two enclaves after the handovers. In particular it condemns the Chinese Government's decision to dissolve Hong Kong's elected legislative council and to introduce laws limiting freedom of assembly and political freedoms. It calls on the Commission to draw up an annual report on political and economic development in Hong Kong and Macao and calls on the Member States to grant a permanent right of residence for the victims of political discrimination in Hong Kong. It also calls on China to undertake publicly not to resort to force in its differences with Taiwan and calls on the Commission to open an information office in Taipeh.�

• 1997/06/11 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• #2011
• 1997/06/02 Council Meeting
• 1997/05/26 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A4-0198/1997
• #1989
• 1997/02/24 Council Meeting
  • 1989
• #1891
• 1995/12/04 Council Meeting
• #1871
• 1995/10/02 Council Meeting
  • 1871 summary

    The Council instructed the Permanent Representatives Committee to give this communication a detailed examination and to prepare, in the light of delegations’ statements during the debate, draft conclusions to be submitted to the Council at its meeting in November in preparation for the discussions of the European Council on the subject in Madrid.

• 1995/09/18 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 1995/07/05 Non-legislative basic document published
  • COM(1995)0279 summary

    OBJECTIVE: the purpose of this communication is to set out guidelines for relations between the European Union and China between now and the 21st century. CONTENT: according to this document, China is undergoing radical social and economic change and is gradually taking its place in the world as a military, political and economic power. The Community, which entered into diplomatic and cooperation relations with China some twenty years ago, must take account of these changes and review its policy in order to help China implement efficient, lasting reforms and take better account of its role and influence on the international stage. The series of measures opening up new cooperation prospects, as presented by the Commission in its communication, is predicated on this premise. Europe and China need to establish long-term bilateral relations which will guarantee their joint objectives. Some of these objectives, such as their mutual interest in a smooth transition in Hong Kong and Macao, date back a long way. Others reflect more recent interests. But in both cases, Europe and China can work together along several specific lines in order to achieve a number of major objectives relating to: . progress towards the full integration of China in the world market economy; . a stronger civil society; . less poverty; . environmental protection; . the development of human resources; . scientific and technological development; . the information society; . cooperation in trade and investment. Within this framework, the Commission defines a new approach to cooperation with China which focuses on: - encouraging China to integrate fully into the international Community by: . extending the scope of current political dialogue to all questions of common interest and global import, . advocating the accession of China to the WTO on the basis of clear commitments to build up a real market economy; - contributing to the reform process currently under way in China by: . continuing to highlight the EU's concerns in the area of human rights and supporting the opening up of the country, the establishment of public and private bilateral contacts and dialogue within multinational fora in order to help develop a civil society in China, . using cooperation between the EU and China to develop human resources and to promote economic and social reform and cooperation between economic actors, including action in the fields of the environment and science and technology; - strengthening links between the EU and China by: . developing commercial contacts in order to improve the conditions surrounding the EU's industrial presence in China and extending access to the market on a non-discriminatory basis, . encouraging contacts between Europeans and Chinese, with particular emphasis on industrial cooperation.�

Documents

• Non-legislative basic document published: COM(1995)0279
• Debate in Council: 1871
• Debate in Council: 1989
• Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A4-0198/1997
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0321/1997

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)