Liberals and Democrats reiterate call for EP investigation into CIA activities in Europe

11.29.37am GMT Thu 8th Dec 2005

Graham Watson, Leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament lent his backing today to the idea of a parliamentary inquiry into the growing concerns about alleged covert CIA activities on EU Member State territory.

"A parliamentary investigation would help clear up a growing number of doubts and concerns surrounding the transit and holding of suspected terrorists by the CIA on EU territory. Liberal Democrat and Green Members of the Civil Liberties committee made this proposal last week though it received a mixed reception from Parliament's two largest groups. It is interesting to see that they are now jumping aboard as the evidence mounts up."

Alexander Alvaro MEP (FDP, Germany), ALDE spokesperson on Civil Liberties and Sarah Ludford MEP (Lib Dem, UK) raised the issue two weeks ago and have been pushing, with other colleagues on the committee, for the European Parliament to act on the growing concerns:

"We have already discussed this topic once in Parliament's responsible committee and will take the matter further on Monday next week in Strasbourg to examine the most effective options for pursuing the matter, together with Vice-President Franco Frattini and parliamentarians from the Council of Europe which has launched its own investigation," commented Alvaro.