France wants common EU policy on Gitmo

PARIS, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- The French Foreign Ministry said Friday it wants European Union members to reach a common policy regarding Guantanamo Bay prisoners.

With U.S. President-elect Barack Obama expected to shut down the U.S. military detention site in Cuba after taking his post, ministry officials want the international group to agree on how to deal with the site's international prisoners, Deutsche Welle said Friday.

The ministry said in a statement that the European Union must agree on a single policy regarding those Guantanamo Bay prisoners being relocated to parts of Europe.

The French government has yet to comment regarding its possible acceptance of any of the relocated Gitmo detainees.

Both Germany and Spain have expressed openness regarding housing some of the inmates, while the Netherlands is behind the call for a united European plan.

Britain has already accepted custody of nine Gitmo detainees and has expressed a willingness to accept more on a case-to-case basis, Deutsche Welle said.