Elena Valenciano Martínez-Orozco, on behalf of the PSE Group. – (ES) Madam President, this is not the first time that we have given our opinion on Guantánamo; let us hope that it is the last time we have to do so.

My group agrees with the appeals contained in the conclusions of the report by the United Nations Committee against Torture, published on 19 May.

We call upon the US Government to stop detaining people in secret centres, either on their own territory or on territories under their jurisdiction or under their de facto control.

We call upon the US Government to recognise that detaining people under these conditions constitutes an act of torture or abuse in itself, which is prohibited under the conventions we have signed.

Finally, we once again call upon the Bush Government to close the Guantánamo detention centre and to give the people held there a fair trial or release them immediately, ensuring that they are not sent to any country where they may be subject to torture, as has apparently happened in some cases.

It is now the Council and the Commission’s turn. Commissioner, the European Union must comply with its guidelines on combating torture and the death penalty. You have the duty to raise this issue with the United States and to ask them to close the Guantánamo prison.

The trans-Atlantic summit to be held in Vienna will offer an opportunity to put pressure on the US authorities. We Socialists want Guantánamo to be on the Vienna agenda.

Furthermore, Europe must make its position very clear: in Europe people cannot be detained without charge, nor can people be illegally moved nor torture externalised. We will play no part in it. This Parliament will play no part in it.