4 July 2001

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in the People's Republic of China

- having regard to the conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 19 March 2001, in which the Council expressed its concern at the serious human rights violations in the People's Republic of China,

- recalling the city of Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games,

- recalling that the Charter of the Olympic Games states that Olympism has as a goal 'to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with the object of creating a peaceful society with the preservation of human dignity',

A. whereas the repression of freedom of opinion and freedom to hold demonstrations in favour of democracy that has been practised for decades, is continuing in the PRC, despite international protests,

B. having regard to the repression of religious, ethnic and other minorities, in particular Tibetans, Uighurs and Mongolians and the Falun Gong movement,

C. having regard to the frequent imposition of capital punishment, leading to over a thousand reported executions in China every year, as well as the widespread use of torture on the part of the Chinese police and military forces,

D. recalling that the PRC has still not ratified the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights,

E whereas the Chinese authorities have taken no significant initiatives on respect for human rights, despite the ongoing political dialogue between the EU and the PRC,

F. concerned with regard to environmental and animal welfare issues in the PRC,

G. stressing that the plans relating to Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games would involve the destruction of a large part of the old city and the obligatory transfer of the inhabitants to the surrounding areas,

H. recalling that the International Olympic Committee is due to designate, on 13 July 2001 in Moscow, the city that will host the 2008 Olympic Games,

1. Invites the International Olympic Committee to establish guidelines to include respect for human rights and democratic principles to be applied as a general rule to host countries of Olympic Games,

2. Regrets that the PRC demonstrably fails to uphold universal human, civil and political rights, including freedom of religion and therefore believes that this negative record and the repression in Tibet as well as in Ouighouristan and in South Mongolia, make it inappropriate to award the 2008 Olympic Games to Beijing;

3. Urges the International Olympic Committee in any case to make a thorough environmental impact assessment with regard in particular to the recurrent water shortages, the impact of mass tourism and the social repercussions in the region surrounding Beijing;

4. Invites the International Olympic Committee to reconsider Beijing's candidacy when the authorities of the PRC have made a fundamental change in their policy on human rights, and the promotion of democracy and the rule of law;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Presidents of the parliaments of the Member States, and to the International Olympic Committee.