The Presidency of the European Union is deeply concerned by the disproportionate sentence against the prominent human rights defender Liu Xiaobo to 11 years of prison for his role as the alleged author of Charter 08, a blueprint of democractic and rightsbased reform in China and for publishing a number of essays relating to human rights issues on the internet. 

The verdict against Mr Liu gives rise to concern with respect to freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial in China.