EU Environmental Ministers Agree on Deep Cuts in Greenhouse Gases

February 21, 2007
EU Environmental Ministers Agree on Deep Cuts in Greenhouse Gases

European Union environmental ministers agreed in principle Tuesday to cut carbon emissions from cars and factories by as much as 30 percent by 2020.

German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel told reporters that the 30-percent reduction is conditional on other industrialized nations matching that number.

If not, the EU will strive for a 20-percent cut.

EU Parliament report accuses some member nations of colluding with CIA renditions

February 14, 2007
EU Parliament report accuses some member nations of colluding with CIA renditions

STRASBOURG, France - The European Parliament on Wednesday approved a controversial report accusing Britain, Germany, Italy and other European nations of turning a blind eye to CIA flights transporting terror suspects to secret prisons overseas in an apparent breach of EU human rights standards.

EU states aware of CIA misdoings

January 26, 2007
EU states aware of CIA misdoings

Still digging for the truth about European governments' role in CIA activities... A special committee of the European Parliament has approved a report that presents a dark view of Britain, Poland, Germany, Italy and other EU states. It alleges that they were aware of American secret intelligence agency flights over Europe, and the abduction of suspected terrorists to detention centres.

The European Parliament committee has also upheld the complaint of Murat Kurnaz. The German-born Turkish national was arrested in Pakistan and imprisoned for four years in Guantanamo. The life-long resident of Germany was not said to represent any terrorist threat, and the Americans offered to send him back to Germany in 2002. Berlin turned down the offer. The case reflects badly on current Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeyer, who is at the centre of suspicions that Germany tried to prevent the detainee from returning there. Kurnaz was eventually freed last summer.