Brussels, 22/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - While the heads of state and government of the 27 member states of the European Union were gathering in Brussels to debate treaty reform, Amnesty International once again called on the EU to respond to the serious charges of complicity in illegal activities, in the context of counter terrorism, against several member states. “In trying to chart the EU's future, EU leaders cannot ignore this key issue which more than anything puts into question the EU's credibility,” said Dick Oosting, Director of Amnesty International's EU Office in a press release. “Today, when it criticises human rights abuse in Russia or China, the EU is reminded of European complicity in CIA renditions,” he went on. In a report published at the start of June, Dick Marty, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly rapporteur, said he had proof of the existence of secret prisons in Poland and Romania (see EUROPE 9442), although Commissioner Franco Frattini has cast doubt on the validity of this new report (see EUROPE 9446). Amnesty International and several other human rights organisations recently made public the names of 39 men who remain missing, and who are believed to have been the victims of enforced disappearance by the US authorities. Hitherto, the only reaction from EU leaders has been silence, Amnesty says. The EU ought, the NGO continues, to look at Canada and the Maher Arar case, and take the lead from a country that at least acknowledged the problem and took political responsibility. At the end of January, Canada apologised and offered over $10 million in damages to Mr Arar, a Canadian national who, on the basis of incorrect information from Canada, was rendered by the US to Syria (see EUROPE 9159). In a letter to European leaders, Amnesty International expressed its disappointment and concern at the EU's lack of political will to tackle this issue and called on the EU and its member states to: acknowledge their responsibilities; put an end to ongoing violations; ensure reparations are made to victims; bring those responsible for human rights violations to justice; and prevent any further serious breaches of human rights in the future. (bc)