Strasbourg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) September 17, 2026 – Members of the European Parliament passed a nonbinding resolution calling for targeted sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials following the sentencing of three prominent activists for organising Tiananmen Square vigils. The lawmakers urged the European Commission to deploy the European Union’s global human rights sanctions regime against responsible personnel. Additionally, the resolution requested that the European Commission examine suspending Hong Kong’s distinct status within the World Trade Organisation.
European Parliament Passes Resolution Calling For Sanctions
The decision follows prison sentences of up to seven years handed down under the national security law introduced by Beijing in 2020. The jailed activists—Lee Cheuk-yan, 69; Chow Hang-tung, 41; and Albert Ho, 74—were convicted over their involvement with annual public commemorations of the 1989 crackdown in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.
Ban On Public Commemorations In Hong Kong And Macau
Public commemorations of the 1989 events were historically permitted in Hong Kong and Macau, representing the only locations on Chinese territory where public mourning took place. In recent years, public vigils have been effectively prohibited by authorities following the enactment of the national security legislation.
EU Lawmakers Highlight National Security Concerns And International Trade Status
During parliamentary debate, conservative Slovak lawmaker Miriam Lexmann stated that Hong Kong has ceased to function as a democratic space, asserting that the territory serves as a mechanism for Beijing’s foreign policy and an entry point for bypassing European Union sanctions against Russia.
The European Parliament’s vote calls directly upon the European Commission to initiate measures targeting individuals accountable for human rights abuses in Hong Kong and Mainland China. Further action regarding sanction enforcement or World Trade Organisation status requires formal review and execution by the European Union’s executive body.
