China–European Union relations

• All differences must be resolved through peaceful dialogue and in accordance with international law.
• In this context, the European Council reiterates its full solidarity with Greece and Cyprus, whose sovereignty and sovereign rights must be respected.
• At the same time, the European Council strongly condemns violations of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus which must stop.
• The European Council calls on Turkey to abstain from similar actions in the future, in breach of international law.
• The European Council invites its President, in cooperation with the President of the Commission and with the support of the High Representative, to develop a proposal for re-energising the EU-Turkey agenda to this effect.
• Finally, the European Council calls for a Multilateral Conference on the Eastern Mediterranean and invites the High Representative to engage in talks about its organisation.
• The Conference could address issues on which multilateral solutions are needed, including maritime delimitation, security, energy, migration and economic cooperation.

China

• It also calls on China to deliver on previous commitments to address market access barriers, to make progress on overcapacity and engage in negotiations on industrial subsidies at the World Trade Organization.
• The European Council encourages China to assume greater responsibility in dealing with global challenges.
• The European Council welcomes, as an important step in the right direction, the statement of President Xi Jinping, following the Leaders video conference, that China will aim to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.
• The European Council underlines its serious concerns about the human rights situation in China, including developments in Hong Kong and the treatment of people belonging to minorities, as expressed at the EU-China summit in June and the Leaders meeting held on 14 September.
• It looks forward to a meeting of all its members with President Xi Jinping in 2021.

Belarus

• The European Council condemns the unacceptable violence by Belarusian authorities against peaceful protesters, as well as intimidation, arbitrary arrests and detentions following the presidential elections, the results of which it does not recognise.
• The European Council fully supports the democratic right of the Belarusian people to elect their President through new free and fair elections, without external interference.
• The European Council also encourages the European Commission to prepare a comprehensive plan of economic support for democratic Belarus.
• With regard to the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant Ostrovets, the European Council reiterates the importance of ensuring nuclear and environmental safety.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

• The European Council calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urges parties to recommit to a lasting ceasefire and the peaceful settlement of the conflict.
• There can be no military solution to the conflict, nor any external interference.
• The European Council expresses its support for the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and asks the High Representative to examine further EU support for the settlement process.

Alexei Navalny

• An EU-China Leaders' meeting with the participation of leaders of all EU member states was initially scheduled to take place on this date.
• President of the European Council, Charles Michel, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Federal Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, for the Council Presidency, conducted the videoconference with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
• The meeting provided an opportunity to follow up on discussions at the 22nd EU-China Summit (22 June).
• The meeting was important to maintain the momentum of EU-China high-level exchanges in order to achieve concrete results in line with EU interests and values.
• The EU side emphasised that high-level political engagement would be required within the Chinese system to achieve a meaningful agreement.
• On other trade and economic issues, the EU reiterated its call on China to engage in future negotiations on industrial subsidies in the WTO.
• The two sides agreed to establish a High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue to pursue ambitious joint commitments on these issues.
• They also confirmed their commitment to upholding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the Iran nuclear deal).

• But, at the same time, we have to recognise that we do not share the same values, political systems, or approach to multilateralism.
• We will engage in a clear-eyed and confident way, robustly defending EU interests and standing firm on our values.
• President von der Leyen said: The COVID-pandemic and a number of major bilateral and multilateral challenges show clearly the EU - China partnership is crucial, be it in terms of trade, climate, technology, and the defence of multilateralism.
• But for our relations to develop further, they must become more rules-based and reciprocal, in order to achieve a real level playing-field.
• The EU-China summit had a comprehensive agenda addressing bilateral relations; regional and international issues, the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery.
• The EU stressed the need for solidarity in addressing the consequences in developing countries, notably as regard debt relief.
• The EU also called on China to facilitate the return of EU residents in China.
• The EU also underlined its expectation that the Human Rights Dialogue will take place in China later in the year once the COVID-19 restrictions are eased.