UK Euro MP Jean Lambert has today welcomed the European Parliament’s report following the investigation into the CIA extraordinary rendition flights, and urged member states to continue with their own inquiries.
Jean, who sits on the European Parliament’s Temporary Committee Of Inquiry into the CIA abuses, today said that despite the efforts of some member states to soften the report, it had sent a strong message that EU Government’s could no longer ‘stick their heads in the sand’ and ignore the problem.
Jean commented; "The so-called ‘war’ on terror has been used by some to rework international law and defy international conventions on human rights and the treatment of those detained (on suspicion, not proof) without trial or any due process. Human rights are universal and indivisible and the EU is committed to upholding these rights.
"This report confronts us with an uncomfortable reality, that the CIA did both abduct and transport civilians in EU countries, a practice that many EU governments and key officials in the EU institutions were aware of. We now urge Member State Parliaments and Governments to investigate fully what may have been happening on their territory.
"This must not be the end of the Parliament’s involvement in this issue and we must be vigilant to ensure that its recommendations are acted on. As a member of the European Parliament’s Human Rights and Civil Liberties Committees I will ensure that we re-evaluate our findings in the coming months. We need clear rules to prevent external secret services from carrying out human rights violations with impunity in EU territory again."
ENDS
For more information please contact:Morwenna Holland, Media Officertel: 020 7407 6280 or 07813149812 email: media@jeanlambertmep.org.uk www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk
Notes to editors: Jean Lambert: In October 2005 Jean was named MEP 2005 for Justice and Human Rights. Jean was first elected Green Party Member of the European Parliament for London in the 1999 European elections. She was re-elected in 2004. She is one of nine MEPs representing London and one of two UK Green representatives in the European Parliament.