Brussels, 02/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Council has decided to allow a certain amount of flexibility into the freezing of assets of terrorists linked to Al-Qaida, in order to allow them pay for basic necessities or pay legal fees. If requested by an individual or an organisation on the European black lists, a country will be able to decide whether to lift the freezing of assets or economic resources, "necessary for spending of basic needs, including foodstuffs, rent or mortgage repayments, medicines, taxes, insurance premiums and local services"; "exclusively for reasonable professional fees and reimbursement of incurred expenses associated with the provision of legal services"; exclusively for fees costs service for the routine holding or maintenance of legal services"; necessary for extraordinary expenses". In the first three cases, the measure will apply if the European committee responsible for sanctions does not object to this use in the 48 hours following notification of the intentions to lift part of the freeze on assets. In this last case, the express permission of this committee will be needed. The decision of the Council was published in the Official Journal L82 of 27 March.