Macau Government Critical EU Report on Human Rights

In a statement released today, the executive of the territory rejected the criticisms concerning the political and social development of the Macao Special Administrative Region (RAEM), including the assessments of the elections to the Legislative Assembly held last year.

The Macau Government argued that since the transfer of the administration to China in 1999, the territory has experienced a “stable economic development”, a “continuous improvement of the democratic system” and progress in the consolidation of the rule of law, under the principle of “one country, two systems”.

According to the official note, the local administration ensures that residents enjoy, “in accordance with the law and in a broad manner”, rights and freedoms of expression, press and meeting, highlighting “comprehensive progress in the area of human rights” and in ensuring the welfare of the population.

In the same note, Macau urged Brussels to “respect the principles of international law and fundamental standards of international relations” and calls for the end of the annual publication of this report, which qualifies as “interference in China’s internal affairs and in the affairs of the EMAS”.

The Government of the SARS also asked the European Union to analyse the results achieved by the territory in an “objective and rational way”, calling for “concrete actions” to promote the “healthy development of bilateral relations”.

In the EU report, it was considered that in Macao, “the year 2025 was marked by greater erosion of fundamental rights and freedoms that should be protected by at least 2049,” according to the Joint Sino-Portuguese Declaration signed in 1987, which stipulates that the social and economic system of Macao should remain unchanged for at least 50 years under the principle of “one country, two systems”.

Among the striking events of 2025, the document highlights the first arrest under the State Security Safeguard Act (former Deputy Au Kam San), the closure of the independent media agency All About Macau due to legal pressure, and the prior disqualification of 12 candidates in the September legislative elections.

The former pro-democracy deputy Au Kam San, a Portuguese national, was arrested on 30 July under the Macao State Security Safeguard Act for alleged collusion with foreign forces, the first detention under this legislation, and the trial is ongoing.

On the other hand, the independent digital media agency All About Macau announced its closure in October, effective in December, claiming “increasing pressure and risk legal risks and resource constraints”, after the local government cancelled the publication license.

With regard to respect for democracy, the EU states that in the last legislative elections on 14 September 2025, 12 candidates were disqualified for not upholding the Basic Law and not giving allegiance to the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The EU has also examined the situation in Hong Kong, highlighting the continuing erosion of autonomy in this special administrative region and the fundamental freedoms and rights of the population, a consequence of the unceasing emphasis of the Hong Kong Government on national security in the fifth year following the imposition of the National Security Act.

In a reply, also published today, the Hong Kong Government classified the European Commission’s latest annual report on the erosion of civil and political freedoms in the territory as “tendential and groundless”.