Europe is moving towards the toughest stance of the United States on Russia and China

EU Foreign Ministers and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held two hours of talks on Monday to discuss the Biden administration’s goal of working closely with European allies on challenges such as the rise of China and the Iran nuclear deal.

EU officials, while stressing their independence from foreign policy, have shown signs of alignment with the US on delicate issues since President Biden took office. A confidential EU document on Hong Kong, released last week and seen by The Wall Street Journal, advocates greater cooperation with the US and other allies to pressure China.

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

Moscow has rejected calls for sanctions for Mr Navalny’s imprisonment and crackdown on protests in support of the opposition politician, and urged the US and the EU to stop entering internal affairs. Russia. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently reiterated a past threat to sever ties with Europe if new sanctions were imposed.

The sanctions are expected to be modest in scope, diplomats said, which are likely to hit officials directly involved in Navalny prison. He was arrested last month after returning from Berlin, where he was recovering from a poisoning attempt. The U.S. Senate is debating sanctions legislation for Mr. Navalny’s case.

The EU has already attacked seven senior Russian authorities with sanctions in October, following Navalny poisoning. Russian authorities have denied involvement in the poisoning, sometimes suggesting that foreign officials were behind it. Mr Navalny is said to have been jailed for skipping parole for a previous conviction.

EU foreign ministers also discussed tightening China’s controls on Hong Kong, although no immediate decisions are expected. According to the confidential document, released by Mr Borrell’s officials in the member states, the bloc could act in the coming months. A possible trigger, according to the newspaper, would be new measures to curb Hong Kong’s autonomy during next month’s meeting of China’s legislative authority, the National People’s Congress.

Last July, following the passage of the National Security Act, which expands the authorities ’powers to arrest Hong Kong citizens for separatist or subversive activities or for collusion with foreign powers, the EU’s responses were modest. Some countries suspended extradition treaties with Hong Kong, facilitated the ability of Hong Kong citizens to enter the EU, and the bloc agreed to additional control over goods that could be used to quell protests.

“While the package adopted in July was well received at the time, the EU’s position is under increasing scrutiny as the situation deteriorates,” the newspaper said. “In assessing potential measures, its ability to influence China’s behavior and its potential impact on overall EU-China relations must also be taken into account.”

Among the measures proposed is more contact with pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, including the invitation of leading figures to talks in Brussels. The newspaper says the EU could ease the ability of multinational companies to transfer Hong Kong citizens to Europe and agree to a suspension of EU-wide extradition treaties with the peninsula.

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

In a signal that stronger economic measures will not be ruled out, the newspaper said 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 future. in the light of the substantial EU economy and financial interests on the ground. “

The document says the EU should “coordinate joint dissemination in Beijing and Hong Kong” with other democratic powers, even through the Group of Seven Leading Nations. He also proposes a discussion on Hong Kong in the newly founded EU-US bilateral dialogue on China.

The EU maintains substantial trade relations with Hong Kong, with more than 60% of foreign direct investment in and out of China passing through the territory and more than 1,500 EU companies based there. EU-Hong Kong bilateral trade last year exceeded 27 billion euros, equivalent to 33 billion dollars.

While the proposed measures move away from direct sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials, EU officials have said the bloc’s new human rights regime could potentially be applied. The document is the first sign that the EU will not stop worrying about Hong Kong since the bloc ended talks on an investment pact with Beijing in December that could extend economic ties.

Also on Monday, EU foreign ministers joined the United States to intensify its condemnation of the military coup in Myanmar and the violence used to repress protesters there.

Ministers said they were willing to adopt sanctions “aimed at those directly responsible for the military coup and their economic interests.” The United States and Canada have already imposed sanctions on coup leaders.

—Ann M. Simmons contributed to this article.

Write to Laurence Norman to [email protected]