Outgoing EU office head says right-wing politics back home unlikely to harm Hong Kong ties
- Thomas Gnocchi says he does not think political shift after European Parliament elections will lead to ‘major changes’ in policy towards city
But Thomas Gnocchi, who will be posted to Tokyo next month, said at an event on Wednesday that “big political changes” related to the city’s two national security laws had continued to “spring to mind” among Europeans.
The European Parliament elections in June saw far-right politicians make notable gains, with the European Conservatives and Reformists political bloc, led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, securing key committee positions.
While Gnocchi said it was a time of transition among EU leadership, he downplayed the potential implications of the political shift on its approach to Beijing and Hong Kong.
“I think it’s fair to say that there’s been a strong showing for parties on the right side of the spectrum following the European Parliament elections,” he said.