EU-China deal on the rocks as sanctions shake support in European Parliament

Three of Europe’s top four parties have already said they will not ratify, and a lively discussion is taking place in the fourth

Deal now faces uphill struggle to be ratified in 2022, with critics saying China misjudged the mood in Brussels

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“China is trying to intimidate us by silencing MEPs [members of European Parliament] because they denounced the human rights abuses against Uygurs in China,” said EPP Chairman Manfred Weber. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 11:59pm, 24 Mar 2021Updated: 10:55am, 25 Mar 2021

China’s investment deal with Europe is on the rocks, with the major parties in the European Parliament either withholding, or considering withholding, support while sanctions remain on elected officials.

Three of the four biggest parties have already said that they cannot support the deal until sanctions are lifted, while some factions of the European People’s Party (EPP) – Europe’s biggest party – are pushing for support to be withheld.

The centre-right, pro-business group had previously backed the deal on economic grounds. But a series of high-profile members cast doubt on that stance in the past 24 hours, including the EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and EPP Chairman Manfred Weber.

“China is trying to intimidate us by silencing MEPs [members of European Parliament] because they denounced the human rights abuses against Uygurs in China,” said Weber in a video posted to social media.

While the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) was not discussed at the EPP’s plenary meeting on Wednesday, sources familiar with internal dynamics expect that it will soon become a major issue in the coming days and weeks.