During a debate following up on the US Senate report on the CIA detention and torture programme, S&D Group MEPs called for real action to ensure those involved in the scandal are finally held to account.

S&D vice-president Tanja Fajon said:

“The barbaric interrogation and torture methods used by the CIA following the 9/11 attacks were a stain on the conscience of the US. That European governments were complicit in this is not only a disgrace but is in clear violation of our human rights commitments and the values on which the EU is based.

“The US Senate’s report not only exposed the extent of these crimes but also clearly shows that torture is ineffective in the prevention and prosecution of terrorist attacks. There can never be any justification for torture under international law and we must show we are serious about this by ensuring that those responsible are held to account.

“We have been calling for almost ten years for serious action on this. EU member states must realise this issue is not going to disappear. Whereas the US Senate report had real consequences in the United States, EU governments have not even completed a thorough investigation into the allegations, let alone taken action against the perpetrators. We need to have a full investigation so that we can find out the full level of involvement from EU member states to end this shameful chapter in our history and ensure it can never happen again.”