Brussels, 11/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 11 February, MEPs called on the civil liberties and justice and home affairs committees (with the association the foreign affairs and, in particular, the human rights subcommittee) to resume the inquiry on allegations of transportation and illegal detention of prisoners in European countries by the CIA and to report to plenary within a year.
With the adoption (by 363 votes to 290, and 48 abstentions) of a joint resolution submitted by the S&D, ALDE, GUE/NGL, EFDD and Greens/EFA Groups, the European Parliament reiterates its calls on member states to investigate the allegations that there were secret prisons on their territory where people were held under the CIA programme, and to prosecute those involved in these operations. In adopting an ALDE Group amendment (400 votes to 274, with 34 abstentions), Parliament calls on member states to investigate fully recent allegations that illegal rendition, detention and torture took place on their territory and to prosecute those responsible. Lastly, Parliament calls for the findings of existing inquiries relating to member states' involvement in the CIA programme, in particular the Chilcot inquiry, to be published without further delay.
This resolution comes in the wake of a report by the US Senate on the use of torture by the CIA and the complicity of a number of EU member states, their authorities and officials and agents of their security and intelligence services in the CIA's secret detention and extraordinary rendition programme. (Solenn Paulic)