Brussels, 5 May: Following a decisive European Parliament debate on China’s “Ethnic Unity Law” on 29 April 2026, European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib delivered a powerful post-debate intervention reaffirming the European Union’s unwavering commitment to Tibetan religious freedom.
“The EU remains of the view that the selection of religious leaders should happen without any government interference and in full respect of religious laws,” Commissioner Lahbib stated. Her remarks underscore a unified European position: the succession of His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a strictly religious matter that belongs exclusively to the Tibetan Buddhist community, free from state coercion.
This executive stance was reflected in a landmark resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 30 April 2026, condemning the PRC’s “Ethnic Unity Law” with an overwhelming majority of 439 votes.
By aligning the Commission’s diplomatic voice with the Parliament’s legislative mandate, the EU has signalled that the preservation of Tibetan cultural and spiritual identity is a non-negotiable pillar of its foreign policy. This position remains a priority at the highest political levels, including EU-China Summits and the dedicated EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, where the Union continues to challenge any state interference in the sacred process of reincarnation.
-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Brussels
