[Al-Jazeera] EUCO - Investment Over Integrity? EU Leaders Divided on Human Rights in China

During a press conference this morning at the EUCO summit, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico responded to an Al Jazeera journalist by stating that “economic concerns” are more pressing than Human Rights violations.

The European Council is currently negotiating the EU–China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) during a four-day summit. One of the most contentious issues is China's Human Rights record in Xinjiang and the implications of ratifying the agreement.

Ahead of the press conference, several council members expressed that economic and security priorities are paramount to Human Rights. During the meeting itself, that sentiment was echoed repeatedly. Prime Minister Fico noted that numerous committee members were dismissive of Human Rights violations and argued that such concerns should not be prioritized in negotiations over the CAI.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reinforced this view, stating that the committee needs to be “set on an agenda,” suggesting that Human Rights are not essential to reaching a compromise among council members. He added: “We cannot confirm or deny that there are any Human Rights violations happening in China”, a statement made despite substantial evidence of China’s repression of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, including forced labor, mass internment camps, and pervasive surveillance. 

Previously, in 2020, the CAI had been rejected due to Human Rights concerns.    While some council members have voiced concern about renegotiating the CAI, due to these implications, these positions appear to conflict with the broader sentiment within EUCO. When asked about the council’s responsibility to address Human Rights violations elsewhere, namely in Sudan, Yemen, and Gaza, the Danish Prime Minister acknowledged that such violations occur daily but added, “We do not think it is appropriate to discuss these Human Rights violations.”

The council remains divided on whether to ratify the CAI, and notably, many delegates still seem unsure how to pronounce this acronym. The remaining two days of the summit will determine both the agreement’s fate and the extent to which Human Rights concerns shape the European Council’s decision-making.