Last week, President Obama signed an order that would close the controversial prison facility at Guantanamo within a year.  Now, EU leaders are meeting to formally consider their previous offer to help.

European Union foreign ministers are forging a plan for taking in dozens of Guantanamo Bay inmates who will have no safe home upon release from the U.S. military prison.  EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and several ministers say the United States must first give access to and background on the detainees before the 27-nation EU makes any decisions.

The U.S. Defense Department says up to a quarter of the 245 Guantanamo detainees could face persecution, prison or execution if returned to their homelands.

EU leaders say they are prepared to give a new home to some who do not pose a terror risk.

The EU foreign ministers are meeting Monday in Brussels to discuss the issue.

It will be interesting to see if European leaders are any more eager than their American counterparts to introduce these people into their society now that we have moved beyond the rhetoric phase into the policy phase.

James Joyner is managing editor of the Atlantic Council. 

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