The EU Should Do More to Help Shut Down Guantanamo

(article by guest author Gregg Dubow)

If EU member states take on more detainees, they will not only solidify the EU’s human rights record, but also reduce security threats, while stepping up pressure on the US government to act. Europe’s stature as a beacon of human rights stands to gain as a result.

President Obama's announcement on 22 January 2009 to close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility within a year led many to believe it was going to be a done deal. However, sixteen months on this deal has yet to be clinched. The latest efforts by the Obama administration to resolve this issue recently hit a major roadblock as a proposal to transfer Guantanamo detainees to a maximum security facility in the USA was shelved after the House Armed Services Committee unanimously voted not to fund the Obama proposal. In light of the lack of action undertaken by US authorities, the question arises as to whether the EU should step up pledges to facilitate the closing of Guantanamo.

The EU proclaims human rights as universal and indivisible and has an excellent track record in offering political asylum. Although the EU passed a resolution in 2009 requesting its members to assist US efforts, only a dozen detainees have been transferred to EU countries according to the EU Council. By taking on more detainees, Europe's stature as a beacon of human rights would only increase. In addition, EU acceptance of more detainees could eventually ease up domestic and international pressure on a President Obama that Europe welcomed as a breath of fresh air for international relations. That impetus of constructive cooperation among all nations means little without more action. Bilateral negotiations between the US and individual EU countries on measures to gradually reduce the number of detainees and resettle them in Europe would help restore credibility to the Western notions of the rule of law and justice. Mutual security interests also stand to gain by eliminating what has been a rallying cry for terrorists around the world. Another pressing argument for more EU engagement is the prospect of U.S. prisoner transfers to countries with weak human rights records. If detainees were transferred to such countries, human rights abuses could take place on a greater scale than what is occurring now.

Some critics argue that Europe is not responsible for cleaning up an American made mess. Many EU governments have already pledged military, logistical and financial support to American military operations and cannot justify further assistance to a cranky and skeptical electorate. Coordinating security within the EU is another challenge due to the Schengen agreement allowing people free movement among EU countries once settled there. Another argument put forth is that taking on detainees would strain relations and economic ties with other countries, especially with China on the issue of resettling Uighers.

While the EU could be doing more, US domestic politics is not exactly moving forward to resolve this issue. Republican conservatives are fear mongering on the premise of the security threat that would be imposed should detainees be housed on American soil. Another lurking factor is the upcoming 2010 mid-term elections. The Obama administration, with a Democratic majority in Congress, stands to lose that majority due to domestic issues. As a result, many Democrats are simply hesitant to address the Guantanamo issue for fear of spurring a larger Republican voter turnout at the polls.

The new US national security strategy has stressed building a broader coalition of actors to advance universal values. The EU should rise to the occasion and show more political will in facilitating the closing of Guantanamo. This would not only promote those universal values but also enhance long term collective security on both sides of the Atlantic in the ongoing war on terror. More proactive measures by the EU could also step up pressure on the US to pull its weight on this issue. It is time that substantive cooperative action is taken to fulfill Obama's pledge.

Gregg Dubow holds a BS from West Chester University (UK) with a major in criminal justice. He is a language trainer based in southern Germany, currently studying International Relations as segway into a different career.