What began with a string of serious allegations published by the media and human rights groups in November has now grown into a cluster of investigations throughout Europe. But the density has also made critics question the need for another probe into European governments' awareness of the American intelligence agency using the bloc's airspace to transit terrorist suspects to countries where they could be tortured.

However, according to Baroness Sarah Ludford, who vice-chairs the temporary committee in the parliament, the aim is not to copy any of the ongoing investigations. Although the committee may hear testimonies from people who have been abducted and tortured, the work will mainly rely on the findings of the politically weak Council of Europe.

As the continent's democracy watchdog cannot punish human rights offenders, the predominant role of the parliament will be to flex its muscle to push for EU-level sanctions against any member state found guilty of breaching European treaties, the members of the committee said.

"If we do find breaches of human rights we will recommend to kick start a process of sanctions, up to the level where member states lose their voting rights," Ludford warned.

Some members of the Brussels-based assembly have suggested that Romania, the prime suspect according to several media reports and leaked intelligence documents, could see its accession to the Union postponed if evidence proves the country has hosted U.S. interrogation centers on its air bases. Fueled by information leaked to the media by Swiss intelligence, Claude Moraes, a British Labor member of the parliament, last week said Romania's slated 2007 membership of the Union could be put off if claims of secret CIA prisons on the Black Sea coast prove true.

However, Baroness Ludford takes a more pragmatic stance on the issue: "This is not a witch hunt," she told United Press International. "One thing alone will not be enough to block Romania ... we are not insisting on imposing sanctions, but we are trying to make sure these countries will not degrade human rights again."

The 46 member committee, which represents the entire political spectrum, is also ready to dump all talk of sanctions if only European intelligence services -- and not their governments -- were aware of the CIA abducting European citizens and using EU airspace in its practice of extraordinary rendition. This scenario was suggested by the head investigator of the Council of Europe, Dick Marty, on Tuesday. In his second interim report the Swiss senator said there was consistent evidence that intelligence services, at the very least, have known about rendition flights.

Before making any recommendations, the parliamentary committee will distinguish between strong and weak states when assessing the role played by European countries in what European tabloids often refer to as "the CIA scandal."

"One has to judge the relative strength of the country to stand up to the United States," Ludford said, " Britain is relatively stronger than Romania so there is less excuse for the UK than Romania."

The committee has been granted four months to present its conclusions and recommendations before the entire parliament.

Conservative members of the committee have already accused liberals on the committee of using the investigation to beat the anti-American drum in Europe after the Ludford called for U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney to be hauled before the assembly.

"We've not even discussed anything substantive yet but the anti-Americans on the committee are already showing their true colors," said British Tory Charles Tannock. "The idea of Dick Cheney or Donald Rumsfeld coming to testify is breathtakingly naive."

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