Brussels, 10/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - MEPs, meeting in Strasbourg adopted a follow-up report on Thursday 10 October on progress in the investigations into secret CIA flights in Europe. The European Parliament adopted a resolution in September 2012 on the post-9/11 flights operated by the CIA in Europe calling on the member states and the Commission to shed light on the matter. One year on, MEPs are “'highly disappointed' by the refusal of the Commission to respond in substance to the recommendations made by Parliament”, a press release states, and they repeat their request.
In their resolution, MEPs call for real rights of inquiry to investigate the flights and the complicity of some member states, and also the alleged breaches of European law highlighted by the NSA programmes. They would like to hear the people involved “under oath”. And they also call on the Commission to draft a resolution on the involvement of member states in “rendition” programmes. Lithuania, Romania, Poland, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Greece, Italy and Slovakia are among countries from which MEPs want further information. The resolution was adopted by 286 votes to 180, with 114 abstentions.
“With Lithuania being one of the countries most deeply involved, the Lithuanian Presidency should be a turning point for accountability, reparations to victims and the assignment of responsibilities. Lithuania cannot go through its Presidency while continuing to ignore these issues. Bringing these issues out into the light would strengthen public confidence in the EU's democratic institutions”, said rapporteur Hélène Flautre (Greens/EFA, France). (SP/transl.fl)