EU and China sign agreement to protect designations of origin

The EU urges China to balance relations and let independent human rights observers in the country

photo_camera PHOTO/XINGLEI/XINHUA via AP - Leaders of the European Union and China

The EU urged China today for a "more balanced" relationship and greater respect for human rights, urging Beijing to allow independent observers.  

“Europe needs to be a player, not a playing field,” European Council President Charles Michel said at a telematic press conference with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, who jointly represented the EU at this meeting, held by video conference with the Chinese President, Xi Jinping.  

The meeting replaces the face-to-face summit that was to take place in Leipzig, under the German presidency of the EU Council this semester, which was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.  

“We want more fairness. We want a more balanced relationship that also means reciprocity and a level playing field,” Michel stressed.  

Investment agreement and climate change

The videoconference was especially focused on trade and economic relations, climate action and the COVID-19 crisis.  

The EU, China's main trading partner, is calling for "equal opportunities" in the economic area, which is why they have been negotiating an investment agreement since 2014.  

Regarding this pact, Von der Leyen said there is a need for more progress if they are to achieve their "shared objective of completing the negotiations this year".  

China needs to allow “rebalancing of the asymmetry” in access and “convince us that it’s worth having an investment agreement,” she stressed. 

Meeting amongst EU and Chinese leaders

Regarding the climate change, the Europeans stressed that China is a key global partner in reducing global greenhouse emissions, tackling climate change and preserving biodiversity. At the same time China needs to commit to setting a goal of climate neutrality by 2050. 

In a joint statement, Michel, Von der Leyen and Merkel - there was no joint declaration with the Chinese counterpart - stressed the importance of a level playing field also in the areas of science and technology, calling for high ethical standards in the areas of technological developments, product safety and innovation. 

Von der Leyen highlighted the importance of secure telecommunications networks to be deployed in Europe, in which Chinese technology companies such as Huawei are interested. 

An agreement protecting designations of origin

The agreement covers Spanish wines from La Rioja, Valencia and Navarre, different varieties of olive oil, Manchego cheese and cava in the main Asian market.  

The European Union and China have signed the agreement, the basis of which was laid down in November 2019, and which involves the protection of around 100 European geographical indications in the main Asian market, including Spanish wines from La Rioja, Valencia and Navarre, as well as several designations of olive oil, Manchego cheese and cava.  

Brussels is confident that the agreement can enter into force "early in 2021", when all the legal procedures have been completed, including approval from the European Parliament and the EU-27. 

The parties have agreed that the new regime, which will also protect around 100 Chinese products in the EU, will be extended four years after it comes into force to include a further 175 geographical indications on both sides.  

The Chinese products to be protected include, among others, Pixian bean paste, Anji white tea, Panjin rice and Anqiu ginger, the European Commission has detailed in a communication. 

The formalisation of the signing of an agreement, the negotiation of which was concluded in November last year, took place in the context of the meeting of EU and Chinese leaders which was held online this Monday by the Presidents of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Council, Charles Michel, with the Asian country.  

In 2019, China was the third largest destination for the Union's agri-food products, with an export volume of 14.5 billion euros. It is also the second largest destination for exports of European protected geographical indications, representing 9% in value. 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the EU-China Summit
 
Human rights and the COVID-19 crisis  

Regarding the human rights situation in China, Michel said that democratic voices in Hong Kong must be heard, rights protected and autonomy preserved, ” urging Beijing not “to break their promises to the people of Hong Kong and go against their obligations to the international communit" following the adoption of a security law that calls into question the city's autonomy.  

He also reiterated the EU's concern about China's treatment of minorities in Xinjiang or Tibet, as well as human rights defenders and journalists.  

Michel demanded access for independent observers to the Xinjiang region, where several NGOs have denounced abuses against the Uighur Muslim minority, as well as the release of the Chinese-Swedish activist Gui Minhai, "arbitrarily detained", and two Canadian citizens.  

He said they would address these issues in the specific EU-China human rights dialogue later this year on Chinese territory, which he hoped would include a visit to Tibet.  

The EU also called on Beijing to "refrain from unilateral action" in the South China Sea, which is almost entirely claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam as a key strategic area for international trade and rich in natural resources.  

On the COVID-19 response, the EU emphasised the shared responsibility to participate in global efforts to stop the spread of the virus, boost research on treatments and vaccines, and strengthen the role of the World Health Organisation. 

We expect all countries, to cooperate with the impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation of the international health response to COVID-19, and support the WHO to identify the source of the virus," said Michel.  An EU-China Leaders’ meeting is foreseen to be held in 2021. 

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