Abuses of Interpol Red Notices
15.11.2013
Question for written answer E-013039-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Baroness Sarah Ludford (ALDE) , Kristiina Ojuland (ALDE)
There is growing recognition that the system of ‘Red Notices’ operated by Interpol is being abused by some countries to issue politically motivated requests against peaceful dissidents.
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has raised such concerns, as has the UNHCR regarding persons granted refugee status. Several people who are recognised as refugees by EU Member States (e.g. Petr Silaev) but who are also targeted through Interpol’s systems have had to refrain from travelling to other EU Member States for fear of arrest, resulting in a de facto contravention of their fundamental rights guaranteed by EC law.
Channels of redress are totally inadequate. There is no effective avenue within EU Member States. The only way to seek redress is through the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF), a supposed data protection panel within Interpol of which no member is a recognised specialist in crime and extradition law. Proceedings before the CCF are not transparent and its decisions are not reasoned or published, so it is unclear how it handles complaints. It may take many months or years to reach an outcome and decisions are not subject to appeal.
In the wake of the recent Interpol General Assembly held on 21‐24 October 2013:
- 1.Can the Commission explain what action it is taking to prevent EU citizens, and persons legally resident in EU Member States, including recognised refugees, from falling victim to political abuses of Interpol’s systems?
- 2.Is the Commission satisfied that such persons have access to an effective procedure through which to challenge both Interpol Red Notices and the resultant restrictions to their freedom of movement and other rights guaranteed by EC law?
- 3.How does the Commission propose to prevent Member States circumventing the subject access rights envisaged in the proposed Europol regulation by exchanging information through Interpol instead, where disclosure requirements are much more limited?
OJ C 231, 17/07/2014