In Hong Kong, Chow Hang Tung was sentenced to 15 months in prison for lighting a candle on the anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre. Here in Europe, we enjoy freedom of speech. But this comes with the responsibility to defend human rights. And that’s why we need a joint European political boycott of the Olympic Winter Games in China! You can watch my speech on the topic below. The European Parliament resolution on Hong Kong was passed with a large majority. Its main points are as follows:

• The EU Commission, the Council of the EU and the member states should boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics.

• Any ratification of the EU-China Investment Agreement must take into account the human rights situation in Hong Kong.

• The Hong Kong government is called upon to free all political prisoners in Hong Kong and to drop all charges against the peaceful protesters in Hong Kong and release them from prison.

• The European Commission and the European External Action Service must work on export control mechanisms to deny China and Hong Kong access to technologies used to violate human rights (e.g. surveillance technologies).