The EU Parliament Tibet Friendship Group warns of serious consequences under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime if China imposes its own Dalai Lama successor.
BY PC Bureau
July 4, 2025 — As the 14th Dalai Lama celebrates his 90th birthday today, a broad coalition of European lawmakers has issued a powerful appeal calling on the European Union to take a firmer stance against China’s attempts to control the succession of the Tibetan spiritual leader.
In a joint opinion published ahead of the Dalai Lama’s milestone, more than 30 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from across political groups urged the EU and its 27 member states to stand unequivocally with the Tibetan people and defend their right to religious freedom. The lawmakers warned that Beijing’s efforts to impose a state-approved successor threaten not only Tibetan spiritual autonomy but also global religious liberty.
“The Dalai Lama is not an obstacle but a solution to the frozen conflict in Tibet,” the MEPs wrote. “As he turns 90, we must ensure that his legacy of non-violence, dialogue, and hope is not met with silence.”
Beijing’s Growing Control Over Religion
The Dalai Lama, born in 1935 in Tibet, has spent over six decades in exile in India after fleeing Chinese military repression in 1959. In recent years, Beijing has escalated its campaign to assert full control over Tibetan Buddhism, including the process of identifying the Dalai Lama’s successor — a sacred rite traditionally conducted by Tibetan monks.
READ: Dalai Lama Succession Battle: China Warns India
In response to the Dalai Lama’s recent statement in his book Voice for the Voiceless, where he declared his next incarnation would be born outside China, the Chinese government reiterated that the process must comply with “national laws” and be approved through the Communist Party’s controversial “Golden Urn” method.
34 Members of the #European Parliament from 15 countries released a statement calling #China not to interfere in the reincarnation of the @DalaiLama #Tibet https://t.co/O2H0S51JzJ
— Tenzin Jigdal (@TenzinJigdal) July 4, 2025
China’s foreign ministry stated that the reincarnation “should be a domestic search” and “must abide by national laws and regulations.” Critics argue this is a blatant political maneuver to install a compliant figure as the next Dalai Lama, thus eroding the institution’s spiritual legitimacy.
A Call for EU Action
European lawmakers have responded with alarm. They are calling on the EU to:
*Affirm the authority of the current Dalai Lama to decide his reincarnation according to Tibetan traditions;
*Reject any attempt by China to interfere in the succession;
*Warn that Chinese officials involved in such interference may face sanctions under the EU’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (the so-called “European Magnitsky Act”).
The call also renews pressure on the Chinese government to restart dialogue with the Dalai Lama’s envoys, referencing the 2008 Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy as a potential framework for peace. The dialogue, which began in 2002, was unilaterally ended by China in 2010.
Legacy of a Global Icon
The Dalai Lama’s moral stature has made him a global symbol of peace, compassion, and reconciliation. He first addressed the European Parliament in 1988, presenting a visionary five-point peace plan that included turning all of Tibet into a zone of peace and seeking genuine autonomy rather than full independence.
He voluntarily relinquished political authority in 2011, transferring leadership to the democratically elected Central Tibetan Administration. Yet, he remains the spiritual heart of the Tibetan people — and a figure of international reverence.
READ: Honoring a Life of Light: Celebrations Across Continents for Dalai Lama at 90
“In a world too often marked by division and aggression, the Dalai Lama’s unwavering commitment to dialogue and human dignity mirrors the values upon which the EU was founded,” said MEP Vytenis Andriukaitis, one of the signatories.
A Test for the International Community
Lawmakers argue that China’s attempts to control the reincarnation process are not merely symbolic but part of a wider strategy to erase Tibetan culture through coercive policies. These include boarding school systems that separate children from families and religious communities, a move the European Parliament condemned in December 2023.
“If we allow a government to impose a spiritual leader on a people against their will, we set a dangerous precedent with global implications,” said Dainius Žalimas, chair of the EU Parliament Tibet Friendship Group.
The lawmakers concluded with a call for the EU to uphold its values and not remain passive.
“We must speak with one voice to defend freedom of religion, human rights, and the right of the Tibetan Buddhist community to determine their own religious leaders free from state interference.”
As the world honours the 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama, his message remains clear: peace through dialogue, freedom through compassion, and autonomy through understanding.
The joint statement was signed by over 30 European lawmakers from across party lines, including: Vytenis Andriukaitis (Lithuania); Petras Auštrevičius (Lithuania); Saskia Bricmont (Belgium); Per Clausen (Denmark); João Cotrim de Figueiredo (Portugal); Sebastian Everding (Germany); Michael Gahler (Germany); Hanna Gedin (Sweden); Markéta Gregorová (Czechia); Hannes Heide (Austria); Rasa Juknevičienė (Lithuania); Ondřej Kolář (Czechia); Andrey Kovatchev (Bulgaria); Miriam Lexmann (Slovakia); Reinhold Lopatka (Austria); Erik Marquardt (Germany); Sara Matthieu (Belgium); Liudas Mažylis (Lithuania); Verena Mertens (Germany); Luděk Niedermayer (Czechia); Rasmus Nordqvist (Denmark); Danuše Nerudová (Czechia); Maria Ohisalo (Finland); Leoluca Orlando (Italy); Urmas Paet (Estonia); Kira Marie Peter-Hansen (Denmark); Chloé Ridel (France); Majdouline Sbaï (France); Jonas Sjöstedt (Sweden); Villy Søvndal (Denmark); Bruno Tobback (Belgium); Dainius Žalimas (Lithuania); Tomáš Zdechovský (Czech Republic); Milan Zver (Slovenia
