BRUSSELS, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- The European Commissioner for Justice said Tuesday he would need solid evidence of CIA camps in EU member states before imposing sanctions on host countries.
The commissioner said there is still no proof to sustain allegations of interrogation prisons run by the U.S. intelligence agency -- as published by the media and human rights organizations -- and stressed the need for solid evidence to be presented before imposing sanctions.
"If true, these allegations would constitute a very serious violation of the European Treaty. We cannot move without clear and transparent evidence," said justice chief Franco Frattini.
Earlier this week, the former Italian foreign minister said he would recommend that any EU country found to have hosted illegal CIA detention camps would have its voting rights suspended as secret jails would violate both the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU treaty.
The European Commission has stepped up pressure on the U.S. administration and the alleged host countries after getting slapped on the knuckles for not reacting hastily to the claims. Last week, the British presidency of the European Union said it would draft a letter to Washington asking for further information on the matter.
