European Liberals and Democrats concerned by transatlantic security drift

4.13.59pm GMT Thu 19th Oct 2006

Sophie In't Veld MEP (D66, Netherlands) chaired a working session in the European Parliament today of experts, lawyers, police and civil society representatives on the subject of "security and freedom: 5 years after 9/11" following concerns that civil liberties were being eroded on both sides of the Atlantic in the war on terror.

"Protection of privacy is not a luxury. Individual liberty is a cornerstone of a free and democratic society," recalled Sophie In't Veld according to whom "human rights are non-negotiable. They are not an obstacle in the fight against terrorism but rather our best weapon against barbarism."

Concerned by the proliferation of police and judicial measures which are potentially detrimental to civil liberties Sophie In't Veld wished that "the EU could adopt its own standards and speak with one voice" and argued that this whole agenda be governed by qualified majority in Council and co-decision with Parliament under judicial review from the Court of Justice.

Ms In't Veld, parliamentary rapporteur on the sensitive issue of the transfer of airline passenger data (PNR) demanded that all anti-terror legislation contain a sunset clause. "ALDE is suggesting that all anti-terror legislation is subject to an annual impact assessment on civil liberties and human rights, particularly in light of their collective impact", she said.

"This seminar has allowed such an evaluation of European and American security measures introduced so far," remarked Sarah Ludford (UK, Lib Dem), vice-chair of the temporary committee on alleged illegal CIA activity in Europe. "We particularly need to establish whether the EU can balance the demands of liberty with the constraints of security and how to launch a wider public debate on the risks involved in the choice between one and the other."