Tag: European Parliament

EU-China investment deal faces flak in European Parliament
Asia, China, World

EU-China investment deal faces flak in European Parliament

In a session of the European Parliament on international trade on Wednesday, the Ministers of the Parliament (MEPs) lashed out at the European Commission on its investment deal with China overlooking human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong.According to media reports, MEPs accused Brussels of overlooking concerns over the prevailing human rights conditions in China, glossing over Beijing’s crackdown in Hong Kong, and not bothering about the Biden administration.The Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) was signed in December last year, however, it still needs to be ratified by the European Parliament and approved by the EU Council.German MEP Reinhard Butikofer, who chairs the parliament’s delegation for relations with China, said the deal was a “Christmas present for (Chinese P
MEPs express support for India’s respect for democratic, constitutional powers
World

MEPs express support for India’s respect for democratic, constitutional powers

In a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on Tuesday expressed their support for India’s respect for democratic constitutional responsibility and to reinforce their backing for a common goal to address extremism and terrorism.“As the Republic of India, the largest democracy in the world, celebrates Samvidhan Divas on the 26 November 2020, we send our congratulations to the country for maintaining peace, democratic values and freedoms and for upholding the Constitution of India established in 1949,” French Member of the European Parliament Thierry Mariani, and Gianna Gancia, Italian Member of the European Parliament wrote in the letter.The Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) said that despite India’s short term as a Republic, it was
Abrogating Article 370 empowered Kashmiris: Member of European Parliament
World

Abrogating Article 370 empowered Kashmiris: Member of European Parliament

A Member of European Parliament (MEP), who visited Kashmir last year, said that revocation of Article 370, under which Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) enjoyed a special status, has empowered Kashmiris in multiple ways and has initiated a process of “healing and homecoming”.Maxette Pirbakas, sharing her experience about closely witnessing and monitoring Kashmir since after August 5, 2019, said, “It (revocation of Article 370) has lifted the artificial barrier that has dwelled in the minds of two generations of Kashmiris on the absence of their links to India and initiated a process of healing and homecoming.”Maxette was among a group of Members of European Parliament who visited Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and interacted with the local people.“The precious hours which I spent in
Lawmakers in eight countries form new global coalition to counter China
World

Lawmakers in eight countries form new global coalition to counter China

A group of 19 MPs from eight countries and the European Parliament, representing a swathe of parties from across the political spectrum have launched a new cross-parliamentary alliance to help counter what they say is the threat China's growing influence poses to global trade, security and human rights.The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China said it aims to "construct appropriate and coordinated responses, and to help craft a proactive and strategic approach on issues related to the People's Republic of China."The decision comes as the US struggles to muster a cohesive alliance to take on China's growing economic clout and as it leads foreign governments in condemning Beijing's move to impose national security legislation on Hong Kong.US Republican Senator Marco Rubio and Democrat Bob Me...