China has formally lifted its sanctions on Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), a move heralded as a significant—though cautious—step towards restoring parliamentary diplomacy between Beijing and Brussels after a years-long freeze.
The decision, communicated to the European Parliament this week, ends a standoff that began in March 2021, when China imposed punitive measures on five MEPs and the Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights. The sanctions, which also applied to the MEPs’ families, effectively severed official dialogue between the European legislature and Chinese authorities.
President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola announced the development on Thursday during a meeting of the Conference of Presidents, the governing body responsible for setting the Parliament’s political agenda. She confirmed that all sanctions targeting Members of the European Parliament, their families, and associated committees have now been lifted.
“As President, it is my responsibility to ensure that every Member of this House can exercise their mandate freely, without restrictions,” Metsola said. “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.”
The decision marks a pivotal moment in EU-China relations, though the atmosphere in Brussels remains one of wary pragmatism rather than jubilation. While the lifting of sanctions clears the way for renewed parliamentary exchange, the Conference of Presidents made it clear that it does not signify a turning of the page on deeper tensions.
In a statement released after the meeting, Parliament leaders reiterated that the European Union will continue to engage with China through a principled lens, defending human rights and fundamental freedoms at home and abroad.
The original sanctions were imposed by Beijing in retaliation for EU sanctions over human rights abuses in Xinjiang, where China is accused of conducting systemic repression against Uyghur Muslims. Those European measures were part of a coordinated Western response that included similar actions by the UK, US, and Canada.
Beijing’s counter-sanctions targeted prominent EU voices critical of China’s human rights record, including former German MEP Reinhard Bütikofer, Belgian MEP Samuel Cogolati, and others, accusing them of “maliciously spreading lies and disinformation.” The Chinese Foreign Ministry simultaneously sanctioned the Parliament’s Human Rights Subcommittee, effectively shutting down any prospect of inter-parliamentary engagement.
In retaliation, the European Parliament voted to freeze all legislative efforts to ratify the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI), a deal painstakingly negotiated over seven years. While the trade pact technically remains on hold, the sanctions cast a long shadow over any possibility of approval.
The latest move by China follows months of quiet diplomacy. According to senior EU officials, talks to reverse the sanctions began in earnest in September 2024, with a series of meetings held between EU and Chinese representatives throughout the autumn. The process culminated in Beijing’s decision this year to lift the sanctions, a gesture seen by some analysts as an attempt to thaw relations ahead of further trade discussions and diplomatic summits.
Nevertheless, EU officials are treating the move as a tactical recalibration by Beijing rather than a wholesale change of heart. “This is a gesture, not a guarantee,” said one senior official. “We remain acutely aware of the challenges that persist in our relationship with China—from human rights concerns to trade imbalances and geopolitical alignment.”
Indeed, the Parliament has shown little appetite for softening its stance. As recently as last month, MEPs passed a resolution condemning China’s military aggression near Taiwan and reaffirmed support for a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region.
Despite the resumption of parliamentary channels, many hurdles remain. European concerns over Chinese industrial overcapacity, data security, and Beijing’s closeness to Moscow following the invasion of Ukraine continue to weigh heavily on EU-China relations.
Still, for now, the lifting of sanctions removes a significant barrier to communication at a time of growing global fragmentation. With diplomatic avenues reopening, Brussels and Beijing may find themselves cautiously re-engaging—albeit with eyes wide open.
Main Image: Fred MARVAUX © European Union 2017 – Source : EP Usage terms: Identification of origin mandatory
