Europe intends to tighten US stance on Russia, China

EU Foreign Ministers and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday held two hours of talks on the Biden government’s goal of working closely with European allies on challenges, including China’s rise and the Iran nuclear power agreement.

EU officials, while emphasizing their independence from foreign policy, have shown signs of aligning with the US on sensitive issues since President Biden took office. A confidential EU article on Hong Kong, circulated last week and seen by The Wall Street Journal, calls for greater cooperation with the US and other allies to put China under pressure.

Support for the imposition of sanctions against Russia has increased rapidly following a tense trip to Moscow by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. Mr. Borrell said before the meeting on Monday that “it is clear that Russia is in a confrontation with the European Union.”

Moscow has called for sanctions due to the imprisonment of Mr. Navalny and its suppression of protests in support of the opposition politician were rejected, and the US and the EU called for an end to Russia’s internal affairs. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently reiterated a threat to cut ties with Europe if broad new sanctions are imposed.

The sanctions are expected to be modest, diplomats said they are likely to hit officials directly involved in Mr. Navalny. He was arrested last month after returning from Berlin, where he was recovering from an attempted poisoning. The US Senate is discussing sanctions legislation on the case of Mr. Navalny.

The EU has already sanctioned seven senior Russian officials in October following the poisoning of Mr. Navalny. Russian authorities denied involvement in the poisoning, and sometimes indicated that foreign officials were behind it. They say that Mr. Navalny was jailed for acquittal over the previous conviction.

EU foreign ministers also discussed China’s tightened control over Hong Kong, although no immediate decisions are expected. According to the confidential article published by officials of Mr. Borrell has been distributed to member states, the bloc could act in the coming months. The potential trigger, according to the newspaper, is new measures to supplement Hong Kong’s autonomy during the meeting of China’s legislative authority, the National People’s Congress.

Last July, after the adoption of the National Security Law, which increased the powers of the authorities to arrest Hong Kong citizens for separatist or subversive activities or for collusion with foreign powers, the EU’s response was modest. Some countries have suspended extradition agreements with Hong Kong, the ability of Hong Kong citizens to join the EU has been eased, and the bloc has agreed to additional scrutiny of goods that could be used to quell protests.

“Although the package adopted at the time in July was well received, the EU’s position is increasingly under scrutiny as the situation worsens,” the newspaper said. “In assessing potential measures, their ability to influence China’s behavior and their potential impact on EU – China general relations should also be borne in mind.”

Among the measures being driven is more contact with pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, including the invitation of leading figures to talks in Brussels. According to the newspaper, the EU can facilitate the ability of multinational companies to relocate citizens from Hong Kong to Europe and agree on an EU-wide suspension of extradition agreements with the peninsula.

Other measures to consider are a high – level visit to Hong Kong by the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, a detailed public report on the rule of law and judicial independence in Hong Kong, and the possibility of an informal high-level meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

In a signal that more powerful economic measures will not be ruled out, the newspaper said that the EU could also set up a consultation platform with Hong Kong civil society groups to coordinate ‘European responses to the situation in Hong Kong in the light of the EU’s significant economic and financial interests on the ground. ”

According to the newspaper, the EU must ‘coordinate joint outreach to Beijing and Hong Kong’ with other democratic powers, including through the Group of Seven Leading Countries. It also proposes a discussion on Hong Kong during the newly established EU-US bilateral dialogue on China.

The EU has significant business ties with Hong Kong, with more than 60% of foreign direct investment in and out of China passing through the region, and more than 1,500 EU companies established there. Bilateral trade, the EU and Hong Kong, increased by 27 billion euros last year, equivalent to $ 33 billion.

While the proposed measures prevent direct sanctions against Hong Kong or Chinese officials, EU officials said the bloc’s new human rights regime could be enforced. The newspaper is the first sign that the EU will not abandon its concerns about Hong Kong, as the group has concluded talks on an investment agreement with Beijing in December that could broaden economic ties.

On Monday, EU foreign ministers also joined the US in stepping up their condemnation of the military coup in Myanmar and the violence used to defeat protesters there.

Ministers said they were prepared to adopt sanctions “targeting those directly responsible for the military coup and their economic interests.” The US and Canada have already imposed fines on the coup leaders.

—Ann M. Simmons contributed to this article.

Write to Laurence Norman by [email protected]