The European Union's foreign policy chief said today he had no proof US intelligence agents had transferred al Qaeda suspects through Europe and that he had no powers to investigate the allegations.
A Washington Postreport last year said the CIA had run secret rendition flights and secret prisons in eastern Europe for al Qaeda suspects unleashed a spate of investigations, but none have so far produced a "smoking gun".
"I have no information whatsoever that tells me with certainty that any of the accusations, allegations, rumours, that have taken place are true," Javier Solana told a committee of European Parliament lawmakers probing the allegations.
"I do not have the information - I do not have the competence - to ask the countries how they have handled these questions," Mr Solana added.
He said the European Union treaty only allowed either the Commission, or a minimum one-third of member states acting in concert, to raise the issue.
Mr Solana advised lawmakers to question Nato Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
But Mr de Hoop Scheffer told the parliament's foreign affairs committee that he also did not have information on renditions.
Mr Solana's comments were sharply criticised by some EU lawmakers. British European parliamentarian Sarah Ludford said he had a political duty to investigate the allegations.
She said of Mr Solana's assertion that he could not ask questions about the allegations and the possible complicity of some EU states as painting "a pathetic picture of the EU".