Moves were announced today for the establishment of an official inquiry at the European Parliament into the alleged deaths of Iraqi civilians involving EU armed forces. Jill Evans MEP (Plaid Cymru Deputy Leader) and Adam Price MP are to travel to Iraq in February on a humanitarian visit. Alleged deaths of Iraqi civilians at the hands of coalition forces serving in Iraq have involved troops from the UK, Denmark and the Netherlands. Jill Evans MEP now plans to seek the establishment of a committee of inquiry at the European Parliament to investigate civilian deaths in Iraq involving armed forces from EU countries.

Speaking from Brussels, Jill Evans MEP (Plaid Cymru) said:

"The number of alleged deaths of Iraqi civilians at the hands of armed forces from EU countries is a cause of significant concern. This is no longer an isolated issue for the member states - this now has wider implications for European Union foreign policy, particularly within the context of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and of our duty in providing humanitarian assistance in Iraq.

"I will be calling on the European Parliament to establish a committee of inquiry to look into these deaths. We need to be sure that the Iraqi families concerned are treated fairly - that they have access to legal assistance and that the investigative process is open, fair and objective."

Adam Price MP (Plaid Cymru) added:

"The UK government has already compensated three Iraqi families and has admitted that it is investigating 13 civilian deaths in Iraq involving British forces. We now know of similar incidents involving armed forces from the Netherlands and Denmark. This is firmly a European issue and as such it is only right that the European Parliament investigates. With cases involving British forces, for example, we find that the British military is investigating itself - this is hardly objective and quite unacceptable. During our February visit we hope to meet some of the families that have lost loved ones and help ensure that they have adequate access to legal representation."

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