By Martin Banks - 7th February 2012
I would be surprised if it becomes a major cause of confrontation
EU diplomat
Human rights are expected to take centre stage at a key summit between the EU and China next week.
At the summit in Beijing, EU leaders will raise several cases of alleged human rights violations in China.
The Chinese will also be urged to resume the so-called 'human rights dialogue', which was set up in 1995 and is supposed to be held twice a year.
A senior EU official said the summit will provide an opportunity to highlight human rights in China which, he said, had deteriorated in recent times.
"We also hope to fix a date for the next human rights dialogue," he said.
Another thorny subject expected to be discussed at the gathering on 14 February is the current row between the EU and China over the emissions trading scheme (ETS).
In the latest twist to the dispute came on Tuesday when China said it was ready to take unspecified measures to defend itself against the ETS.
On Monday, China banned its airlines from joining the programme without its permission.
A source said that with the EU looking to China to dip into its huge foreign exchange reserves to help the eurozone crisis, Brussels is anxious that the current spat does not develop into a full-blown trade row.
The tussle over the emissions scheme, which levies charges for carbon emissions from flights in and out of Europe, has also angered other countries, including the United States and India who believe the EU is exceeding its legal jurisdiction by calculating the carbon cost over the whole flight, not just Europe.
The EU source conceded there was a "difference of opinion" with China over the ETS but expressed optimism that this could be overcome at the summit.
"We know this is a controversial issue and has attracted some criticism but we believe these upcoming discussions will help defuse the situation. I would be surprised if it becomes a major cause of confrontation."
Other issues under the spotlight will be the current economic situation in both the EU and China, a joint partnership on 'urbanisation' and reinforced cooperation on energy.
Commission president José Manuel Barroso, Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European council, and EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht will represent the EU at the summit, while the Chinese will be represented by their premier Wen Jiabao.
EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton will not attend as she will be in Latin America.
The summit - described as a "stock-taking" exercise - should have been held last October but was cancelled due to the flurry of EU summits at the time.
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