The European Parliament has recommended that the EU and its members states file a case before the International Court of Justice, if China applies the new national security law they have proposed for Hong Kong.
In a resolution adopted on Friday (19 June) by 565 votes to 34, with 62 abstentions, the European Parliament voted in favour of bringing China before the International Court of Justice over its decision to adopt a new national security law for semi-autonomous Hong-Kong.
In the text, MEPs “call on the EU and its Member States to consider, in the event the new security law is applied, filing a case before the International Court of Justice alleging that China’s decision to impose national security legislation on Hong Kong violates the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).”
They also strongly condemn the new law as an assault on the city’s autonomy, as well as China’s constant and increasing interference in Hong Kong’s internal affairs. MEPs call for the jailed pro-democracy activists and peaceful demonstrators to be released and for charges against them to be dropped. They want to see a UN Special Envoy appointed to deal specifically with the situation in Hong Kong.
The European Parliament is greatly concerned by the steady deterioration of civil and political rights, and press freedom in Hong Kong and calls for an independent and impartial investigation into the police’s use of force against pro-democracy protesters.
It finally strongly urges EU member states in the Council and the EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell to address the issue of the national security law for Hong Kong as a top priority at the upcoming EU-China Summit on Monday, 22 June, (via video conference) and at the planned EU-China Leaders meeting, as well as other human rights issues, such as the situation of the Uyghurs.
The Centre Right EPP Group in the European Parliament, which is the largest political group, has denounced the constant and increasing interference by China in Hong Kong’s affairs and reiterated its support for the existing Sino-British Joint Declaration which grants Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy until at least 2047. It calls the adoption of the National Security Law with regard to Hong Kong is an affront to the city’s autonomy, rule of law and fundamental freedoms, as well as to international agreements. The Group believes that the European Union has a duty to stand with the people of Hong Kong.
European Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will hold a video summit next Monday (22 June) with the leaders of China.
