Brussels, 27/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - On 20 March, the European Commission indicated that 23 member states had not responded to a questionnaire on the fight against terrorism sent to EU countries following the controversy involving secret CIA flights and prisons in Europe. Friso Roscam Abbing, the spokesperson for the justice, security and freedom commissioner indicated that “We will take stock after Easter and then send a reminder to those who have not replied yet”. Only Finland, Luxembourg, Poland and Spain have respected the 15 March cut-off date to answer the detailed questionnaire the Commission sent to the different Union capitals in December. A problem of Commission legitimacy remains, insofar as the remit it has on terrorism is limited and does not allow it to compel member states to provide it with answers. The Commission investigation is aimed at gathering together factual and concrete information about the implementation by member states of anti-terrorism measures, as well as data protection to help the Commission identify difficulties and assess possible needs for action at a European level. The questions posed cover a whole raft of measures, such as how has each member state ensured that members of the secret services are accountable to the national parliaments. Sending out this questionnaire was one of the first responses made by the Commission after submission by the European Commission of a report on the CIA flights and prisons in Europe scandal, to which suspicions about the secret services of certain member states having collaborated with the US services, can also be added. The parliamentary enquiry report concludes that there were more than 1200 CIA chartered planes operating extraordinary renditions of people suspected of terrorism throughout Europe. There are also questions about 14 member states in this connection (EUROPE 9366). At the outset, the Commission had indicated that answers to the questionnaire would form he subject of a report to the Council and Parliament. Other initiatives were also supported by the Commission to prevent similar situations arising in the future (EUROPE 9510). (B.C.)