Brussels, 06/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - The Chair of the EP Committee on Citizens' Freedoms, Jean-Marie Cavada (ALDE, France), asked in a letter addressed to the jurisconsult of the Parliament, Gregorio Garzon Clariana, on Tuesday whether it were legally foreseeable to create a parliamentary committee of inquiry. This request comes after a majority of MEPs from his committee had taken a stance in favour of launching a formal investigation into the existence of CIA secret detention centres in Europe (EUROPE 9082). According to Mr Cavada, it is a question of determining above all whether the practice of irregular extradition practised by the USA would be legal for terrorist suspects if implemented on Union territory, if such a practice has indeed been implemented on Community territory, if these flights have taken place, if this is done with the implicit or explicit consent of EU Member States, and whether there were any European citizens among the detainees transported on such flights. The president of the Socialist Group, Martin Schulz, also took a stance in favour of a parliamentary investigation. “Ms Rice has given us no assurance as to whether the United States has taken prisoners to secret prisons with intention to torture them. Her declarations only strengthens speculation on the existence of secret prisons”, he said. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice began, on Monday evening, her visit of Europe with Germany, avoiding controversial questions about CIA flights and secret prisons. Among other things, she recalled that the new war against terrorism is a “challenge” which means ”we must do everything we can to protect our citizens”. She reiterated that the United States “does not acknowledge having carried out torture which runs counter to US law and counter to its international obligations”, while adding that “intelligence is the absolute key to success” in the war against international terrorism. Condoleezza Rice is awaited on Wednesday afternoon in Brussels where she is to attend an informal dinner with her EU and NATO counterparts. The Committee on Citizens' Freedoms will hold an extraordinary meeting on 12 December in Strasbourg to discuss this dossier. She has invited Commissioner Franco Frattini and a representative of the Council of Europe to take part in the meeting.