Brussels, 07/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 6 April, the European Union was unable to give a strong sign of solidarity to the United States' formal call for assistance in closing down the Guantanamo prison (EUROPE 9876). For now, member states are divided over whether to take in former Guantanamo inmates. France, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, Ireland and Switzerland are ready to take in the detainees. Others are categorically opposed - like Austria, Sweden, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Poland. Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg are still undecided. Most delegations have said that far too many questions remain unanswered by the Americans. Under such circumstances, each member state will take its own decision about taking in the Guantanamo prisoners. “Requests should concern about 60 former inmates and, if the European Union agrees to take in 10 to 15, then that will be good”, one diplomatic source said. The member state that is willing to take in the former inmates on its territory should proceed to an exchange of information with the other member states (EUROPE 9877). Finally, the responsibility of drafting a joint EU/US document on a new transatlantic vision in the field of combating terrorism could be entrusted to the foreign ministers. (B.C./transl.jl)