EN E-002809/2020 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Borrell on behalf of the European Commission (7.7.2020) The European Union has regularly expressed its concerns for the situation in Tibet, and has called on China to respect the rights of persons belonging to minorities. The EU also expressed concern for growing restrictions on freedom of expression and access to information in relation to the management of the COVID-19 outbreak. These positions were raised bilaterally in contacts with Chinese authorities and expressed publicly in international fora, namely during the last United Nations Human Rights Council, with the statement on situations that require the Council's attention delivered on 10 March 20201. In the framework of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue (last meeting held on 1 April 2019), the European Union has consistently expressed concerns for the overall human rights situation in Tibet, highlighting in particular restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, on education, the situation of prisoners, and the lack of proper consultation of the Tibetan minority in decision making processes which affect their livelihood. The European Union is committed to continue expressing its position on Tibet as part of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue as well as in other bilateral meetings. The High Representative/Vice-President Borrell referred to the EU serious concern about the treatment of minorities in Tibet during his Strategic Dialogue with State Councillor/Foreign Minister Wang Yi on 9 June 2020. 1 https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/un-geneva/75884/hrc43-item-4-human-rights-situations-require-councils- attention-eu-statement_en