Fight against terrorism: Liberals and Democrats contest the security doctrine of the USA

9.40.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 15th May 2007

At a public hearing today in the Civil Liberties committee with Michael Chertoff, US Homeland Security chief, Sophie In't Veld MEP (D66, Netherlands) once more firmly opposed the provisional agreement of last October on the transfer of airline data (PNR) which is currently under renegotiation. "The European position would be considerably enhanced if the EU would speak with one voice and under a common policy," she declared.

In the presence also of Wolfgang Schaüble, JHA Council chairman and Commissioner Frattini, In't Veld also questioned the principles on which the agreement was based: "Do you wish to conclude an agreement on PNR that reflects common legal principles or allow yourselves to have US norms imposed upon us?"

Sophie In't Veld, was not convinced by the assertions of Mr Chertoff concerning the effectiveness of the use of personal data by police and secret services in the fight against terrorism. "We have no objective evaluation of these measures but only anecdotes which carry no weight when assessing the effectiveness of a mechanism which undermines civil liberties," she said recalling that it was not so much the lack of information which had hampered US security services in preventing 9/11 but their ability to use what they had.

Speaking earlier in the debate, Sarah Ludford (UK, Lib Dem) said "we all agree with the aim of creating a safer world but the excesses of the war on terror is threatening the very democracy and human rights about which this war is being fought. To win the war, we must first win the battle of hearts and minds," she concluded.