Samenvatting

The Lisbon Treaty stipulates that the European Union's and the Member States' actions should be guided by the principles that inspired its creation. These principles are democracy, the rule of law, human rights. However, influence from outside forces can affect the European Union's unity, and leave Member States to neglect the EU's founding principles in exchange for national economic benefits. This thesis aims to research "How has the Belt and Road Initiative affected the EU's response to the Uyghur oppression in China?" In recent years the Uyghur oppression has become international news, however, there has been a lack of response from the European Union. Throughout this thesis, the Sino-European relations are researched, and the effect of the Belt and Road Initiative on the European Union is explored. A historic background is provided in order to allow the reader to fully understand the Uyghur oppression, as well as the nature of the Sino-European Human Rights policy. This research shows that the Xinjiang region has economic, strategic, and security benefits. These align with the Belt and Road Initiative, leading to China desiring to gain more control over the region, and try to appease the Uyghurs that have a desire to be a separate state. This has led to the detainment of nearly a million Uyghurs. The EU has expressed its concern, and urged China to allow United Nations officials into the region. However, as the EU has imposed sanctions for Human Rights violations in the past, the mere expression of its concern does not seem fitting. It is clear that the economic benefits that come from its relations with China, and the fact that China has become a world power, have had a significant impact on the willingness of the European Union to speak out against China's human rights violations. Which, in turn, negates the stipulation of the Lisbon Treaty and affects the European Union's credibility within Human Rights Diplomacy.