Brussels, 15/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - Alberto Gonzales, Attorney General (Justice Minister) of the United States, said in Brussels on Wednesday that "an agreement has been reached" with the EU on biometric passports. This agreement goes towards a more flexible interpretation of American legislation and "extra time" for the partners to come into line with these obligations. American legislation obliges the nationals of 15 Member States (the 15 old ones minus Greece plus Slovenia) wanting to visit the United States to be issued with passports containing biometric data (Digital fingerprints and photographs) as of 26 October 2005. Alberto González did not wish to go into any more detail than that, and said that he was waiting for an official announcement later that day. "We are safer, but we are not entirely safe", said Alberto Gonzales on the terrorist threat in the United States. He stressed the need to "boost cooperation" between the United States and the EU, to "mutually share information" whilst continuing to "protect our citizens' rights to privacy". He added that, on the fight against terrorism, "we cannot succeed without the help of the European Union and cooperation with it".
When asked about the situation in the Guantánamo Bay detention centre, Alberto Gonzales said that the United States is constantly reviewing its methods which, he said, respect the Geneva Convention. "We want to be effective", and when there are allegations of ill-treatment, "we investigate this", he added. "It is up to the President to decide" when the detention centre will be closed. Currently, some 540 prisoners from 40 countries are being held in Guantánamo Bay.
The day before, Alberto Gonzales and Luc Frieden, the Luxembourg Justice Minister, took stock of legal cooperation in criminal matters and cyber-criminality between the United States and the EU. The Attorney General also met Franco Frattini, European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, with whom he stressed the importance of information in effectively fighting terrorism. During this first visit to Brussels since he took office for months ago, Alberto Gonzales met Javier Solana, the Secretary General of the Council and High Representative for CFSP, Gijs de Vries, the Unions anti-terrorist coordinator and Neelie Kroes, the Commissioner for Competition. He is to take part in the Justice and Home Affairs G8 in Sheffield.