Brussels — The European Union and the People's Republic of China recently held the 40th session of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue in Brussels. The EU expressed its concern at the continuing deterioration of fundamental freedoms in Tibet and other regions. The EU also called on China not to interfere in the selection of the reincarnation of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
The European Union and the People's Republic of China held the 40th session of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue on June 13, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium. They talked about recent human rights developments both in the EU and in China.
The EU representatives stressed that the selection of religious leaders should be carried out without interference from the government and in compliance with religious norms, including for the succession of the Dalai Lama. The EU has asked China to provide transparent and reliable information on the enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, who has been missing for 30 years.
The EU released a press statement and it states, “The EU reiterated its serious concerns regarding the ongoing deterioration of fundamental freedoms in China. These include the persistent restrictions on freedom of expression, religion or belief, peaceful assembly, and the right to equality and non-discrimination. The EU again called attention to the erosion of the rule of law, due process rights violations and the lack of judicial independence. It also raised concerns over labour rights, the use of forced labour and labour transfer programmes.”
“The EU upheld the importance of transparency and accountability, urging China to end practices such as arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture and ill-treatment. The EU reiterated its firm opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances and urged China to establish a moratorium and provide transparent data on its application,” it added.
The statement says, “The EU expressed its concerns for the particularly vulnerable situation of persons belonging to religious, ethnic and linguistic minorities in China. The EU underlined that the selection of religious leaders should happen without government interference and in accordance with religious norms, including for the succession of the Dalai Lama. The EU called on China to provide transparent and reliable information on the enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama who is missing since 30 years.”
The EU also referred to China's increasing use of transnational repressive practices to pressure and control Chinese nationals abroad.
The EU calls on Chinese government to release those individuals detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights, including Tibetan activists, writers and religious leaders, including Go Sherab Gyatso, Tashi Dorje Anya Sengra, Tsongon Tsering, Drugdra, Lobsang Khedrub and Lobsang Gephel.
The EU also called release of EU citizen Gui Minhai. Uyghurs, including Sakharov Prize winner Ilham Tohti, medical doctor Gulshan Abbas, ethnographer Rahile Davut and Uyghur activists Hushtar Isa and Yalkun Isa. Human Rights Defenders and lawyers deprived of their liberty for having promoted and protected human rights, including Ding Jiaxi, Xu Zhiyong, as well as Yu Wensheng. His wife Xu Yan is still subject to surveillance and travel ban following her release.
The EU also raised the case of Gao Zhisheng. Individuals detained or deprived of their liberty for their exercise of the freedom of expression, including citizen journalists Huang Xueqin and Zhang Zhan. Concerning Hong Kong, the EU expressed its concern about the repressive use of national security legislation which continues to undermine human rights and fundamental freedoms. The EU called for the immediate and unconditional release of British citizen and media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai and of barrister and human rights defender Chow Hang-tung.
