EU Reiterates Call on China Not to Interfere in the Succession of the Dalai Lama

On 13 June, the 40th EU-China Human Rights Dialogue took place in Brussels, during which the European Union once again emphasised that the selection of religious leaders must take place without government interference, with specific attention to the succession of the Dalai Lama. This dialogue took place just weeks before the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday on 6 July 2025.

Concerns About Religious Freedom in Tibet

During the dialogue, the EU expressed serious concern about the deterioration of fundamental freedoms in China, with specific attention to Tibet. The European delegation emphasised that religious leaders must be chosen without government interference, explicitly referring to the future succession of the Dalai Lama.

The EU demanded “transparent and reliable information” from China about the whereabouts of the 11th Panchen Lama, who has been missing for 30 years since his abduction by Chinese authorities as a child in 1995. This remains one of the most prominent cases of enforced disappearance in Tibet.

Criticism of Chinese Repression

Vincent Metten of the International Campaign for Tibet called on the EU to take action against Chinese officials involved in religious interference. “The EU must go beyond mere diplomatic protests and attach concrete consequences to Chinese violations of religious freedom,” said Metten.

The EU also raised its concerns about the treatment of detained Tibetan writers, monks and activists. Representative Rigzin Genkhang stated: “The EU’s support keeps hope alive for millions of Tibetans who strive to preserve their identity, culture and fundamental freedoms.”

Increasing Transnational Repression

In addition to the situation in Tibet itself, the EU expressed concern about China’s increasing transnational repression. This includes intimidation and threats against Tibetan communities in Europe and other countries where Tibetans live in exile.

Recent Political Developments

This dialogue followed the approval by the European Parliament in May 2025 of a resolution that forcefully rejects Chinese interference in the succession of Tibetan Buddhist leaders. The resolution also criticises the forced boarding school system for Tibetan children, in which more than one million Tibetan children are separated from their families and culture.

Limited Progress After 40 Years of Dialogue

Human Rights Watch criticised the EU-China human rights dialogue as ineffective, stating that despite 40 iterations, no meaningful progress has been achieved. The organisation recommends that the EU integrate human rights into all EU-China relations and establish concrete consequences for continued repression.

Next Steps

The dialogue was co-chaired by Paola Pampaloni (EEAS) and Shen Bo (Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Both parties agreed to continue the exchanges, with the next dialogue planned in China in 2026.

Prior to the dialogue, EU delegates visited South Tyrol to study regional autonomy models — a visit considered relevant for possible future autonomy arrangements for Tibet.

The Tibet Support Group Netherlands welcomes the renewed EU pressure on China, but emphasises that concrete actions must follow these diplomatic statements to actually bring about improvement for the Tibetan people.