Press release 2006/014 - Tobias Pflüger (MEP) - Strasbourg, 14th of February 2006

Concerning the first regular session of the CIA flight investigation committee - the “Non-permanent committee on the alleged use of European states by the CIA for the transport and the illegal arrest of prisoners”, the European deputy of the Left fraction, Tobias Pflüger, declares:

The instatement of a really independent international investigative commission on the CIA flights becomes ever more urgent in the light of the first session of the “CIA investigative commission” of the European Parliament yesterday evening. Thus, for instance, the question of the representative of the Left Fraction (GUE/NGL), Willy Meyer, of the Spanish United Left (Izquierda Unida), for the role of military bases in the kidnappings and deportments in Europe was simply not answered. In response to the question for the “transportation agreement” concluded in January 2003 by the EU and the USA on prisoners, who are called “alien criminals” in the text, EU interior commissioner Frattini responded that he did not know the text very well, but would get informed on it. Frattini during the session once more called upon the members states to finally ratify the extradition agreement of prisoners with the USA, so that this one might quickly enter into force. Frattini's appearance in the committee suggests though that the commission is not interested in a real clarification. It was avoided to even say a word on the collaboration of EU member states in the organisation of the CIA flights. On the contrary, apparently EU officials in the investigative committee can throw fog even on urgent question.

Link to the investigative committee:

Strasbourg, February 14, 2006
Tel. 00333 8817 5555

Translated by Carla Krüger, February 14, 2006