Brussels, 12/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 11 July, the civil liberties committee at the European Parliament (LIBE) called on member states to investigate CIA flights and secret detention sites set up following the attacks on 11 September 2001.
By adopting the report of Hélène Flautre (Greens/EFA, France) by 50 votes in favour, 2 against and 5 abstentions, as a parliamentary committee press release indicates, MEPs called on EU member states to investigate whether there were secret prisons or facilities on their territory. Lithuania, Poland, and Romania in particular are encouraged to open or resume independent investigations. MEPs also called on Finland, Denmark, Portugal, Italy, the UK, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Poland to disclose all suspect information plans associated with the CIA and their territory.
The report indicates that, “research by the UN, the Council of Europe, national and international media, investigative journalists and civil society has brought to light new information on the location of secret CIA detention sites in Europe, rendition flights through European airspace, and persons transported or detained”. MEPs consider that member states "have stated their willingness to abide by international law but until now have not properly fulfilled the positive obligation incumbent upon all member states to investigate serious human rights violations connected with the CIA programme".
Five years after the EP's first report, committee members are critical of the "delays in shedding full light on this case", and believe that "difficulties encountered by member states in conducting inquiries result in a failure to fully comply with their international obligations".
“MEPs have come under considerable pressure from different national and other interests, seeking to keep a lid on these allegations, but thankfully they stood firm and voted in favour of this report" said rapporteur Hélène Flautre (Greens/EFA, FR), whose report will be submitted to the September plenary session. (SP/trans/fl)