Socialist opposition casts doubt on CIA follow-up

The European Parliament's Socialist group is blocking efforts by its own members to launch a second report into EU countries' involvement in extraordinary rendition flights by the CIA.

Several delegations in the group have expressed opposition to a follow-up to Parliament's first report into the alleged transport and illegal detention of prisoners by the CIA, which was adopted in February 2007. Portuguese Socialist MEP Ana Maria Gomes noted that one of the delegations opposing a second report was the Portuguese - "something with which I profoundly disagree", she said. Claudio Fava, the Italian Socialist MEP who drafted the first report, has been pushing in recent weeks for a follow-up.

Fava and group leader Martin Schulz held a private meeting on 21 February, at which he was told about the lack of support. Parliament sources said that the German and Swedish Socialists are also among those who are reluctant and want to avoid damaging figures in their national parties. Fava would not comment ahead of a meeting with representatives of the other political groups on 28 February.

Parliament's largest political group, the centre-right EPP-ED, is not convinced of the need for a second report. Manfred Weber, the group's lead MEP on the issue, told European Voice: "We see no need for a new report." But he indicated that he could support inviting representatives of the member states and the Commission to the Parliament, to discuss what they have done to address the allegations. The Liberal-Democrat ALDE group has not yet decided its line.

Supporters of a second report, including Kathalijne Buitenweg, the leading Green MEP on Parliament's civil liberties, justice and home affairs committee, argue that the first report makes provision for a second report. It states that the committee should "follow up politically" and monitor developments.

Fava's report, which examined the alleged use of European countries by the CIA for the transportation and illegal detention of prisoners, contained a series of recommendations to national governments and the Commission, including calls for member states to carry out appropriate investigations into CIA activities on their territory. The report was adopted following a year-long deliberation by a temporary committee of Parliament.

The European Parliament's Socialist group is blocking efforts by its own members to launch a second report into EU countries' involvement in extraordinary rendition flights by the CIA.