Brussels, 30/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 29 January, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana called on European countries to remain open to the call from Washington to help in the closure of the Guantanamo prison camp, so that the US administration does not feel that Europe refuses to cooperate with it. Europe, he said, should be prepared to offer any assistance it can, even if only because “this is the first time that we will have been able to help” the Barack Obama administration, Solana said in a debate at the European Parliament. “And if we cannot (help), at least we will have shown willing,” he said, noting that EU aid will be “very difficult” to achieve because of the different legal systems in the EU. During a different debate, EU anti-terrorism coordinator Gilles de Kerchove called for a “collective response” from the EU to the closure of Guantanamo and the problems it raises. “The European Union cannot be expected to provide an answer with the fortnight. We are still in the exploratory phase. Ministers will discuss this issue further,” he stated, adding that the Americans themselves were not ready, since they were currently assessing the case of each of the detainees. The Czech Presidency of the EU, along with Solana's staff, will prepare an options paper to prepare a response to the United States, de Kerchove said. (B.C./transl.rt)