Written declaration No. 699 | Doc. 15042 | 28 January 2020

Chinese police forces in Europe

Signatories: Mr Konstantin KUHLE, Germany, ALDE ; Mr Iulian BULAI, Romania, ALDE ; Ms Yolaine de COURSON, France, ALDE ; Ms Jennifer DE TEMMERMAN, France, ALDE ; Mr Fabien GOUTTEFARDE, France, ALDE ; Mr Christoph HOFFMANN, Germany, ALDE ; Mr Michael Aastrup JENSEN, Denmark, ALDE ; Mr Claude KERN, France, ALDE ; Mr Eerik-Niiles KROSS, Estonia, ALDE ; Mr Michael LINK, Germany, ALDE ; Ms Alexandra LOUIS, France, ALDE ; Mr Edmon MARUKYAN, Armenia, ALDE ; Ms Kathrine OLLDAG, Denmark, ALDE ; Mr Martin POLIAČIK, Slovak Republic, ALDE ; Ms Isabelle RAUCH, France, ALDE ; Mr Axel SCHÄFER, Germany, SOC ; Mr Frithjof SCHMIDT, Germany, SOC ; Mr Frank SCHWABE, Germany, SOC ; Ms Petra STIENEN, Netherlands, ALDE ; Ms Liliana TANGUY, France, ALDE ; Ms Nicole TRISSE, France, ALDE ; Mr Sylvain WASERMAN, France, ALDE ; Ms Martine WONNER, France, ALDE

This written declaration commits only those who have signed it.

We, the undersigned, declare the following:

In recent years, the People’s Republic of China has become more present and influential in Europe, increasing its efforts to strengthen bilateral relations with Council of Europe member States.

Since 2016 Italy and the People´s Republic of China maintain an exchange program that includes the stationing and deployment of Chinese police officers in Italy. Similar programs exist in other Council of Europe member States like Serbia and Croatia. Accordingly, Chinese police officers are patrolling the streets of selected European cities.

Whereas international co-operation and dialogue in the field of law enforcement should be welcomed by the Council of Europe and its member States, a co-operation that includes police presence in public areas should be reconsidered by member States when dealing with a country disrespecting human rights, the rule of law and democratic values.