Shared political responsibility in EU military deployments

20.11.2008

WRITTEN QUESTION P-6442/08
by Nils Lundgren (IND/DEM)
to the Council

The Swedish armed forces state that torture occurred in connection with the EU's military deployment to Bunia in Congo on 13 July 2003, Operation Artemis. The French military, on the other hand, announced that it had been decided to acquit the French soldiers suspected of torture. The Swedish armed forces were not given the opportunity to question the French soldiers, which seems strange, as the countries taking part do, after all, share the political responsibility for military deployments conducted under the EU flag.

Does the Council consider that there are political as well as democratic grounds for allowing countries that contribute to a joint EU military force also to question all participating soldiers when there are accusations of torture?

OJ C 316, 23/12/2009