EN E-001329/2023 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Borrell i Fontelles on behalf of the European Commission (19.6.2023) The European Union has persistently expressed its concerns about the dire human rights situation in Tibet, notably on restrictions on the freedom of religion or belief. The EU is determined to address these concerns not just in public, but directly with the Chinese authorities, including at the highest political level. During her recent visit to China on 6 April 2023, the President of the Commission raised the EU’s human rights concerns with President Xi and Premier Li. When meeting his counterparts, including in the framework of past sessions of the EU-China strategic dialogue, High Representative has raised the same concerns, which are also expressed officially in multilateral fora1. The EU remains of the view that the selection of religious leaders should happen without any government interference and in full respect of religious norms. In the framework of the EU-China human rights dialogue, the European External Action Service repeatedly expressed the position that China needs to respect the succession process of the Dalai Lama. This was also recalled during the 38th EU-China human rights dialogue that was held in Brussels on 17 February 2023. High Representative/Vice-President Borrell follows this issue and remains committed to reiterating the EU’s position as events so require. 1 The HR/VP could not hold the planned April 2023 Dialogue, which is being rescheduled, but see, for example: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/un-geneva/hrc52-item-4-general-debate-human-rights-situationsrequire-councils_en?s=62