EU-US anti terror fight must work both ways - Ludford

4.59.26pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 1st Mar 2007

Following comments by John Bellinger, legal adviser to Condoleezza Rice, that European inquiries into secret CIA activities may undermine intelligence cooperation between the US and European countries and that the US would not extradite CIA agents wanted for trial in Italy, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP has tabled urgent questions to the EU Council of Ministers and Commission asking how this fits with pledges of transatlantic joint efforts to fight crime.

Baroness Ludford said:

"The American government expects extradition to the US even when there is no prima facie case. But they refuse to reciprocate even when there is plenty of evidence to show CIA involvement in a very serious crime of illegal kidnap and rendering to torture."

"They cannot move the goal posts to suit their own agenda. Ending intelligence cooperation would in any case be cutting off their nose to spite their face. Mr Bellinger's remarks smack of petulance."

Notes to Editors

The full text of the question is included below:

John Bellinger, legal adviser to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, has warned (reported Feb 28th 2007) that ongoing inquiries into secret CIA activities in the European Union may undermine intelligence cooperation between the United States and European countries. He also stated - and this at a time when EU member states are in the process of ratification of the 2003 EU-US Agreements on extradition and mutual legal assistance - that the US would refuse any Italian extradition request concerning CIA agents indicted for the alleged kidnapping of Abu Omar in Milan in 2003.

Can the Commission [Council] state whether it regards Mr Bellinger's threat of non-cooperation on intelligence and extradition matters as representing loyal cooperation in the joint fight against terrorism and serious crime? How can EU citizens have confidence, in the light of these statements from a very senior US administration official, in the mutual and reciprocal nature of the obligations being assumed by the EU and US through the various transatlantic arrangements? Is the EU giving a lot and getting little back? Would the US be in conformity with the 2003 agreements, once in force, in refusing the Italian extradition request or any similar EU member state request related to extraordinary rendition involving abduction, illegal detention, enforced disappearance or torture?