Strasbourg, 17/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - In Strasbourg last Thursday the European Parliament adopted a very firm resolution by the EPP-ED, PES, ELDR, Greens/EFA and UEN groups on judicial co-operation between the EU and the United States in the framework of fighting terrorism, calling for any international agreement signed to fully respect the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights and not lead to "disproportionate restrictions on data protection standards". Any agreement should also guarantee that rights on the monitoring of mail and contact between people arrested and their lawyers are respected, and provide guarantees in terms of procedure in order to ensure a fair verdict. (See EUROPE of 13 December, p.10, for debate.)
Parliament again demanded that the death penalty be abolished in the United States and reminded Member States that they have obligations in this connection given the ratification of Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights. According to the EP, this means a general agreement cannot be signed between the EU and the United States and extradition is only possible if the US guarantees that it will not apply the death penalty. Moreover, extradition or refusal of entry must not be used as "disguised" extradition procedures. The EP also feels that the US Patriot Act (which discriminates against non-US nationals) and the United States' plans for military tribunals for terrorists contravene the principles of the Convention on Human Rights.