Brussels, 16/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - Asset-freezing measures against people with links to Al Qaeda must respect defence rights and be approved by the European Parliament, the MEPs stressed in a resolution adopted in Strasbourg on Wednesday 16 December. The resolution echoes the measures proposed by the Commission, after a ruling of the Court of Justice of September 2008 cancelled the regulation on restrictive measures which had been in place since 2002. In its "Yassin Abdullah Kadi and Al Barakaat International Foundation/Council and Commission" ruling, the Court reached the conclusion that the regulation violates fundamental rights, particularly defence rights (EUROPE 9733). As regards the freezing of funds and financial assets against people or entities with links to Osama bin Laden, the Al Qaeda network and the Taliban, the MEPs take the view that the measures should be accompanied by safeguard mechanisms and guarantees. Above all, they want the co-decision procedure to apply. Article 215 of the Treaty of Lisbon, which gives the Parliament a consultative role only, applies only to external actions, whereas sanctions are imposed on the soil of the EU, the MEPs stress. During the debate the day before, the Swedish Minister for European Affairs, Cecilia Malmström, nonetheless stood firm: "We shall ensure that the European Parliament is fully involved in preparations for new rules to fight terrorism within the EU, in the framework of co-decision as provided by article 75. But when it comes to external measures and sanctions against third countries, for example for decisions of the United Nations, there will be no co-decision. The Treaty makes this quite clear". The MEPs are also calling for the effectiveness of UN anti-terrorist sanction mechanisms to be evaluated, as these could have negative effects on conflict resolution and development efforts in a number of regions. In a resolution, the MEPs also call to be consulted on future measures against people threatening the rule of law in Zimbabwe and Somalia. As in the case of anti-terrorist sanctions, they call for their effectiveness to be assessed, and for verification that their reasons are always valid. Lastly, the MEPs stressed that possible transfers of data must enjoy an adequate level of protection and that information regarding persons and entities concerned must be as complete as possible. They call for the swift adoption of a general framework on this issue. (B.C./trans.fl)