SOFIA, Bulgaria—Some European countries were also responsible for the illegal detention of prisoners by the CIA, the European Parliament admitted last week after passing a resolution on Feb. 19 on “the use of European countries by the CIA for the transportation and illegal detention of prisoners.”
The resolution stated that “recent events confirm the participation of some EU member states in cases of exclusive transfers.” The press office of the EU parliament reported that
EU member states also bear a share of political and moral responsibility for the detention of prisoners at Guantanamo.
In a statement released to the media, the Parliament said that “the report of the Parliament from February 2007 and the consequent events confirm that several EU member states have participated or cooperated, actively or passively” with U.S. authorities in the illegal transportation of prisoners. The admission was based on recently disclosed information on aircraft flight permissions released by governments at the request of the U.S., and from government information on secret prisons.
In the statement, the Parliament condemned the lack of action so far by the member States and the EU Council to clarify the circumstances of the exclusive transfer program, as well as the overlooking of the implementation of the recommendations of the Parliament.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) urged the member States, the EU Commission, and the EU Council to fully apply the recommendations made to them by the Parliament in its 2007 report, and “to help establish the truth, by initiating investigations or cooperation with the competent authorities” and ensuring effective parliamentary oversight of the activities of secret services.
MEPs also insisted on establishing responsibility for the secret detention centers, including the Guantanamo prison run by the U.S., as well as for the exclusive transfer program.
The resolution said that prisoners who were abducted in the territories of certain EU States, or who were in the exclusive transfer program, were transported by air to Guantanamo, or to other countries by U.S. authorities using military or CIA flights. These flights often passed over EU territories, and in some cases, made stopovers in EU member states. The prisoners were allegedly subjected to torture in local prisons in the stopovers.
After the adoption of the report by the European Parliament Temporary Committee in February 2007, information was released by officials and the press confirming that some EU countries such as the U.K., Poland, and Spain were involved in cases of exclusive transfers of prisoners.
The resolution also welcomed as a “big step forward” the three decrees by U.S. president Barack Obama on Jan. 22 for the closure of the detention center in Guantanamo, the end of controversial interrogation methods, and the suspension of secret prisons abroad.
According to MEPs, however, these measures “do not seem to match fully the issues of abduction and secret detention, and the use of torture.”
The European deputies also affirmed that exclusive transfers and secret detention are against international laws on human rights, the UN Convention against Torture, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The resolution stated that “recent events confirm the participation of some EU member states in cases of exclusive transfers.” The press office of the EU parliament reported that
EU member states also bear a share of political and moral responsibility for the detention of prisoners at Guantanamo.
In a statement released to the media, the Parliament said that “the report of the Parliament from February 2007 and the consequent events confirm that several EU member states have participated or cooperated, actively or passively” with U.S. authorities in the illegal transportation of prisoners. The admission was based on recently disclosed information on aircraft flight permissions released by governments at the request of the U.S., and from government information on secret prisons.
In the statement, the Parliament condemned the lack of action so far by the member States and the EU Council to clarify the circumstances of the exclusive transfer program, as well as the overlooking of the implementation of the recommendations of the Parliament.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) urged the member States, the EU Commission, and the EU Council to fully apply the recommendations made to them by the Parliament in its 2007 report, and “to help establish the truth, by initiating investigations or cooperation with the competent authorities” and ensuring effective parliamentary oversight of the activities of secret services.
MEPs also insisted on establishing responsibility for the secret detention centers, including the Guantanamo prison run by the U.S., as well as for the exclusive transfer program.
The resolution said that prisoners who were abducted in the territories of certain EU States, or who were in the exclusive transfer program, were transported by air to Guantanamo, or to other countries by U.S. authorities using military or CIA flights. These flights often passed over EU territories, and in some cases, made stopovers in EU member states. The prisoners were allegedly subjected to torture in local prisons in the stopovers.
After the adoption of the report by the European Parliament Temporary Committee in February 2007, information was released by officials and the press confirming that some EU countries such as the U.K., Poland, and Spain were involved in cases of exclusive transfers of prisoners.
The resolution also welcomed as a “big step forward” the three decrees by U.S. president Barack Obama on Jan. 22 for the closure of the detention center in Guantanamo, the end of controversial interrogation methods, and the suspension of secret prisons abroad.
According to MEPs, however, these measures “do not seem to match fully the issues of abduction and secret detention, and the use of torture.”
The European deputies also affirmed that exclusive transfers and secret detention are against international laws on human rights, the UN Convention against Torture, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
