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4 Resolutions & reports ·decision 4 of 10 on Thursday, 22 January 2026

Conviction and imminent sentencing of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong

Motion for a resolution · voted at 12:05

Non-binding texts in which Parliament states its position on a topic. They carry political weight but do not create law.

Adopted by an overwhelming majority 503 for · 9 against · 100 abstained (82 % in favour) Foreign affairsChina & Indo-PacificHuman rights abroad
The vote✦ In shortFull textProcedure

What Parliament decided

Adopted Adopted by an overwhelming majority

Parliament adopted the text as its official position.

For 503 Against 9 Abstained 100

Final vote on the motion for a resolution at 12:05 · 82% of votes cast in favour · every MEP’s position →

Who backed it
  • The Left –
  • Verts/ALE ✓
  • S&D ✓
  • Renew ✓
  • PPE ✓
  • ECR ✓
  • PfE –
  • ESN –
  • NI –

Backed by Verts/ALE, S&D, Renew, PPE and ECR; The Left, PfE and ESN mostly abstained.

✦ What this vote decides · AI summary, based on the text voted on

Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the conviction of Jimmy Lai, a British citizen and media entrepreneur in Hong Kong, and calling for his immediate release. The text also urges Hong Kong authorities to provide Lai with medical care and expresses concern about his solitary confinement. Parliament calls on member states to suspend extradition treaties with Hong Kong and China and to review the status of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in Europe. The resolution will be forwarded to the EU institutions, China, and Hong Kong.

How the vote unfolded · 6 ballots

5 alternative motions lapsed once the text was adopted.

Roll call requested by Renew.

adopted rejected lapsed square = amendment circle = part of the text decisive vote Solid = roll call (click for every MEP’s vote); faded = no individual positions

All 6 ballots in voting order
1. Final vote on the motion for a resolution 12:05 RC-B10-0068/2026 – Motion for a resolution requested by Renew
Adopted
2. Alternative motion for a resolution B10-0068/2026
— no individual positions recorded
3. Alternative motion for a resolution B10-0082/2026
— no individual positions recorded
4. Alternative motion for a resolution B10-0084/2026
— no individual positions recorded
5. Alternative motion for a resolution B10-0085/2026
— no individual positions recorded
6. Alternative motion for a resolution B10-0086/2026
— no individual positions recorded

Part of the sitting of Thursday, 22 January 2026. The vote was taken on Motion B-10-2026-0082 in procedure 2026/2573.

New here? How plenary voting works
A sitting
One day of voting in plenary. Each subject is a report, resolution, agreement or objection; they are grouped by kind of decision, and each group says what “adopted” means there.
The ballots
Members vote on amendments and on parts of the text first, then on the text as a whole. That final, decisive vote is the result shown at the top of each subject.
Who voted how
Only roll-call votes record each Member’s vote — open one for every name and the breakdown by group. A show of hands records the outcome only.
Document & procedure
Each subject rests on a document (a committee report, a motion, a Council or Commission text) and belongs to a procedure, the whole file that can span years.
Group badges
How most of a group voted: ✓ For · ✗ Against · – Abstained · ~ Split (no majority).

Codes in ballot labels

  • Am 27 — amendment 27
  • § 5 — paragraph 5
  • § 5/2, part 2 — a , taken in parts
  • Am 3= 7= — identical amendments voted together
  • ***I — ; *** — ; * —
  • Lapsed —
  • A10-… — committee report; B10-… — motion
  • RC-B10-… — joint motion of several groups

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