Brussels

The European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Delegation for Relations with the People’s Republic of China held a joint public hearing to examine the implications of China’s “Ethnic Unity Law” on Tibetans, Uyghurs, and other minority communities, according to a report by the Central Tibetan Administration.

The hearing came shortly after the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the legislation with a strong majority vote of 439 members.

The session built on discussions initiated during the Inter-Parliamentary Group for Tibet meeting held at the European Parliament in March, following the introduction of the law by the China.

Chaired by Member of the European Parliament Mounir Satouri, the hearing included participation from MEP Engin Eroglu, officials from the European External Action Service, human rights organisations, and academic experts.

During the proceedings, Eroglu said the law placed unprecedented pressure on Tibetans and Uyghurs and reflected an escalation in state-led assimilation policies. Amnesty International China Director Sarah Brooks cited the organisation’s 2025 annual report and warned that the legislation could institutionalise state control over the cultural and social lives of ethnic minority groups while further shrinking civic space in China.

Tenchoe Gyatso, President of the International Campaign for Tibet, joined the hearing virtually from Washington DC and urged European Union member states to issue a united statement opposing the law. She also called on the EU to appoint a Special Representative for Tibetan Affairs and to encourage the resumption of dialogue between Beijing and Tibetan representatives, describing it as the only peaceful path to resolving the Sino-Tibetan issue.

Academic expert Charles Brown of King's College London presented an analysis of the law, arguing that it formally expands state authority over the cultural and social spheres of ethnic communities and could create a legal basis for deeper institutional assimilation.

Representing the European External Action Service, Nicole Pusterla said the EU was closely monitoring the implementation of the legislation. She expressed concern over possible extraterritorial effects of the law and urged EU member states not to support any measures that could aid its enforcement. She reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to protecting cultural, linguistic, and religious freedoms.

READ MORE: West Bengal Polls: BJP makes dent in TMC stronghold of Muslim-majority districts

During the discussion, Lithuanian MEP Rasa Jukneviciene compared the law to Soviet-era assimilation policies experienced in Lithuania, saying such measures posed serious risks to the identity and freedoms of minority communities.