EP has adopted the second report on CIA counter-terrorism operations in Europe

On 11 September 2012, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on alleged transportation and illegal detention of prisoners in European countries by the CIA. The draft of the resolution was prepared by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Hélène Flautre was the Committee’s Rapporteur.

“We were glad to hear that the European Parliament adopted this resolution”, says Dr. Adam Bodnar, HFHR Deputy President. He adds: “This is another step to discover the truth regarding the alleged existence of CIA prisons in Europe”.

A press conference held by Ms Flautre preceded the adoption of the resolution. The conference emphasised that there was an urgent need to secure safeguards to prevent any future violations of fundamental rights during the implementation of counter-terrorism strategies. MEPs attending the conference noted that it was unacceptable to approve the use of torture or tolerate other serious human rights violations against persons merely suspected of collaborating with terrorist organisations.

The resolution named Poland, Lithuania and Romania as countries who should take special effort to investigate the truth about the existence of secret detention facilities on their territories. It called on Poland to persevere in its ongoing criminal probe.

The states were urged to comply with a positive obligation to investigate human rights violations and enable each and every individual to access to all the safeguards of the right to a fair trial. “The difficulties encountered by Member States in conducting inquiries result in a failure to comply fully with their international obligations, which undermines mutual trust in fundamental rights protection and thus becomes the responsibility of the EU as a whole”, reads the resolution.

In March 2012, a public hearing on the alleged existence of CIA prisons in Europe was held before the EP Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. The discussion was joined by representatives of non-governmental organisations, including the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Amnesty International and Reprieve. Parliamentary delegates from Lithuania, Romania and Poland failed to attend the hearing (to find out more about this issue, use this link).

“We highlighted the key facts regarding the ongoing Polish investigation into the alleged CIA detention centres”, says Dr Bodnar.