The European Union and the United States endorsed on June 15 2009 a joint statement on the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, "at the same time marking a fresh start in counterterrorism co-operation based on shared values, international law, the respect for human rights and the rule of law" according to the statement.
 
The statement, a joint effort of the Czech EU Presidency, with the support of the EU Counter-terrorism coordinator and the European Commission, and the US, gives full backing to the US pledge to close the detention centre.
 
President Barack Obama has indicated that he wants the centre closed by January 2010. There about 240 detainees, many said to be eligible for resettlement.
 
The idea of accepting former Guantanamo detainees has been received with misgiving in several EU states. So far, only the UK, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and, Belgium have indicated willingness to do so.
 
Earlier in June, EU interior ministers accepted the principle that it is up to an individual member state to decide whether to accept a former detainee, and accepted a system for information sharing and that former detainees would not necessarily have the freedom of movement ordinarily conferred on a third-country national when resident in the Schengen area. Former detainees may be subject to surveillance and restrictions on movement.
 
The statement approved by the EU and the US on June 15 "allows those EU member states wishing to receive former detainees cleared for release, based on a request by the US, to refer to a common EU framework when doing so".
 
The text draws upon principles adopted by EU interior ministers, which stipulate that the US will share with the EU member states the available information relevant to ex-detainees received on the territory of the EU member states and the Schengen Area.
 
The decision on whether to accept former inmates from Guantanamo remains the exclusive competence of the individual member states.
 
The US and a country accepting a former detainee will be obliged to share relevant confidential and intelligence information with other European nations.