Tuesday

3rd Oct 2023

Council of Europe to investigate alleged CIA jails in Europe

The Council of Europe has appointed Swiss liberal politician Dick Marty to examine the existence of alleged secret American detention centres for terror suspects.

The decision follows press reports claiming that the US intelligence agency, the CIA, has held terror suspects captive in covert detention centres in eastern Europe.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

The centres form part of a secret global prison system including sites in eight countries around the world and were set up after the 11 September 2001 attacks, according to the Washington Post.

Human Rights Watch identified Romania and Poland as two European countries possibly operating such jails, but both countries have denied the allegations.

Mr Marty’s investigations may be discussed at an urgent debate as early as 25 November in Bucharest, the Council of Europe said in a statement.

In April 2005 a resolution from the Council of Europe called on its 46 member states to make sure their territories were not used "in connection with practices of secret detention."

The Strasbourg-based Council of Europe is an organisation of 46 member states and focuses its work on promoting human rights, the rule of law and democracy.

European courts may challenge US terror renditions

Three European countries are considering judicial inquiries into potential criminal offences related to CIA operations in Europe. Members of the European Parliament are set to discuss the issue in Strasbourg later today.

Column

Will Poles vote for the end of democracy?

International media must make clear that these are not fair, democratic elections. The flawed race should be the story at least as much as the race itself.

Opinion

Orbán's 'revenge law' is an Orwellian crackdown on education

On Tuesday, the Hungarian parliament passed a troubling piece of legislation known by its critics as the 'revenge law', which aims to punish and intimidate teachers who dare to defy Viktor Orbán's regime. This law is a brutally oppressive tool.

Latest News

  1. The EU-Kenya free trade deal shows a waning 'Brussels effect'
  2. Hoekstra pledges to phase-out fossil fuel subsidies
  3. 10 years on from the Lampedusa shipwreck — what's changed?
  4. EU ministers go to Kyiv to downplay fears on US, Slovak aid
  5. Hoekstra faces tough questioning to be EU Green chief
  6. Frontex shared personal data of NGO staff with Europol six times
  7. Why EU Commission dumped Google's favourite consultant
  8. Slovak's 'illiberal' Fico victory boosts Orbán, but faces checks

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  2. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
  3. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  4. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  5. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us