Sarah Ludford MEP

EU court delivers landmark 'Kadi' judgment on fundamental rights

4.44.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 3rd Sep 2008

The annulment by the EU's top court of an EU regulation which rubber-stamped a UN blacklisting decision by freezing the assets of alleged terrorists without information, redress or appeal represents a landmark in the development of European fundamental rights.

Commenting on the ruling concerning Yassin Abdullah Kadi and the Swedish-registered Al Barakaat International Foundation, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Liberal Democrat European Justice and Human Rights Spokeswoman, said:

"This marks the coming of age of a European Union which really does guarantee fundamental rights instead of just talking about them. I look forward to the ECJ getting full jurisdiction regarding security matters so that European citizens are better protected from abuses of human rights and civil liberties.

"The fight against terrorism is difficult, but if we erode our fundamental freedoms in the process, we simply destroy the values we are battling to protect. Suspected terrorists must be brought to justice on the basis of a fair trial and normal rights of defence."

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Previous news story: First ever European Parliament plenary session held in Brussels (Tue 2nd Sep 2008).
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