CIA committee findings point to need for EP and US Congress to join forces in democratic fight against terrorism

1.11.20pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 23rd Jan 2007

The European Parliament temporary committee on CIA flights and prisoner renditions adopted its report today with a centre-left majority of 28 votes against 17 with 3 abstentions.

Several key amendments tabled by the Liberal and Democrat group were approved, including the demand that Council and Commission pursue the findings for possible breach of Human Rights under articles 6 & 7 of the Treaty of European Union and a demand for closer collaboration with the US Congress in defeating terrorism within the democratic system rather than suspending it.

"This report builds on the solid foundation of the work begun by the Council of Europe. ALDE group has played a pivotal role in both parliamentary bodies to expose the facts." said Sarah Ludford, 1st Vice-President of the TDIP committee (UK LibDem).

" We insisted on the insertion of references to articles 6 and 7 of the Treaty which specifically call for action by the Commission and the Council against those Member States which have violated those principles but done nothing to remedy their failures. The Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee is mandated to monitor and advise the Parliament on whether to press for action under Article 7." she added.

"It is also important that ALDE obtained agreement for our call that the essential EU-US dialogue on security should be made more democratic and transparent through association of both the European Parliament and the US Congress. We are not alone in the fight against terror.

Ignasi GUARDANS, ALDE co-ordinator in the TDIP committee, (ES, CiU) stated "The report is balanced between those who still pretend nothing has happened, and those who oppose any serious cooperation with the US and its intelligence services in the fight against terrorism. We support that cooperation in principle, but the report is fair in denouncing Council and Member States' failures of responsibility in terms of active and passive collaboration with extraordinary renditions to the CIA".

He also underlined that "ALDE has shown a responsible and consensual attitude, withdrawing some amendments in order to achieve the widest support from MEPs of different groups. The report takes a firm stand in favour of human rights and exposing the truth. I salute the rapporteur and those colleagues who supported it regardless of their national and political affiliation."