China has lifted sanctions on members of the European Parliament and their families, in the first firm concession of a charm offensive aimed at prising Europe away from Washington’s orbit.
Beijing will hope its gambit will thaw out a bilateral investment pact, the ratification of which the parliament froze following a tit-for-tat exchange of sanctions over EU human rights concerns in 2021.
The announcement was made by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola to a closed-door meeting of the chamber’s senior leadership on Wednesday, but had been telegraphed through a series of meetings since last autumn.
“As president, it is my responsibility to ensure that every member of this House can exercise their mandate freely, without restrictions,” Metsola said in a statement.
“Our parliamentary committees must be able to discuss European interests with their Chinese counterparts without fear of repercussions. Our relationship with China remains complex and multi-faceted. The best way to approach it is through engagement and dialogue,” she added.
The move is likely to chime with the expectations of many who expect EU-China ties to improve amid unprecedented strains that the return of US President Donald Trump has put on transatlantic relations.
