China has lifted sanctions on German Green politician Reinhard Bütikofer, who had been on a sanctions list for criticizing the Chinese government, and he confirmed that he and his family are no longer subject to sanctions.

Bütikofer, a former European Parliament member and prominent China critic until his retirement in 2024, was previously barred from entering China, Hong Kong, and Macau, and his associated businesses were restricted from trade with China.

The sanctions against Bütikofer were initially imposed in 2021 in response to EU sanctions over China's treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, and they also affected other Europeans and institutions.

The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, stated that the EU aims to address ongoing challenges with China through dialogue, focusing on unfair trade practices and human rights issues.

There is speculation that the lifting of sanctions may be linked to the upcoming EU-China summit scheduled for July 24, 2025, where Chinese leader Xi Jinping will meet with EU officials amid concerns over China's support for Russia and trade practices.

This diplomatic effort includes a scheduled meeting between the National People's Congress and the European Parliament in Brussels in October 2025, the first such meeting since 2018, which is expected to foster renewed engagement.

The EU had previously suspended ratification of an investment agreement with China in response to the sanctions, but recent developments suggest a shift towards dialogue.

The initial sanctions against Bütikofer and others were imposed in 2021 as retaliation for EU sanctions over human rights abuses against Uyghurs, and China had sanctioned ten Europeans and four EU entities at that time.

The sanctions were lifted following a visit by the NPC to Brussels in late June 2025, during which discussions with European Parliament officials indicated a potential political consensus to resume legislative meetings.

Bütikofer expressed relief that he and his family are no longer under sanctions but criticized the continued restrictions on the Mercator Institute for China Studies, calling China's sanctions policy erratic.

The European Parliament was recently informed of China's decision to lift sanctions, signaling a possible effort by China to resume dialogue with European institutions.

Bütikofer congratulated former colleagues on the sanctions being lifted but noted that the European Parliament has not advocated for removing sanctions on other individuals and think tanks, highlighting ongoing concerns.