Addressing the strategic crisis in Tibet: Five priorities for the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union

As Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July 2026, the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) is calling on the EU to adopt a more coherent and strategic approach to Tibet within its broader policy towards China.

At a time when the European Union is increasingly framing its relationship with China through the lenses of security, resilience and de-risking, Tibet should no longer be treated as a peripheral issue. The worsening human rights situation, China’s accelerating assimilation policies, growing transnational repression, militarisation of the Tibetan Plateau and increasing concerns over water security and environmental governance all demonstrate that Tibet is both a human rights and a strategic challenge for Europe.

ICT’s briefing note argues that developments in Tibet have direct implications for regional stability, international security and the EU’s credibility as a principled global actor. Ireland’s Presidency – guided by its priorities of “action and delivery”, “Ní neart go cur le chéile – Strength with unity”, and strengthening the EU as a principled global actor – offers an opportunity to ensure Tibet receives greater attention across EU-China engagement.

The briefing identifies five key priorities:

Five priorities for the Irish EU Presidency

In line with Ireland’s 2026 EU Presidency priorities of “action and delivery”, “Ní neart go cur le chéile – Strength with unity”, and “strengthening the EU as a principled global actor,” the Irish Presidency should ensure that Tibet receives greater attention across the EU’s engagement with China by pursuing five priorities:

1. Promote the resumption of dialogue between the Chinese government and representatives of the Dalai Lama or the democratically elected Tibetan leadership in exile as the only sustainable path toward a peaceful and negotiated resolution of the Tibet issue.
2. Defend the fundamental rights of Tibetans by publicly calling on China to end the repression, arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances of Tibetans and the restrictions on their freedom of expression, religion, and culture, including at the highest level such as during the EU-China Summit.
3. Promote religious freedom, in particular the right of Tibetan Buddhists to freely determine their religious leaders, including the succession of the Dalai Lama, through a joint EU statement affirming that the selection of Tibetan Buddhist leaders must remain free from state interference.
4. Strengthen EU coordination on Tibet by actively supporting the appointment of an EU Special Representative for Tibet or for Human Rights in China, to help ensure a more coherent and resilient European approach, particularly at a time when China is aggressively implementing assimilationist policies on Tibetans.
5. Ensure that EU-China climate and environmental engagement systematically include issues related to water security (and in particular hydropower development), biodiversity, and environmental impacts on the Tibetan Plateau.

Download the full briefing here.

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