(BRUSSELS) - The European Union's anti-terrorism coordinator affirmed Thursday that the bloc will comply with a court ruling and inform terror suspects why their assets have been frozen.

"We will of course abide by the ruling of the court, that is obvious," Gilles de Kerchove he told reporters in Brussels.

On September 3, the European Court of Justice -- Europe's highest court -- gave the EU three months to inform a Saudi sheik and a Sweden-based foundation why their funds have been frozen or see the measures annulled.

The EU froze funds belonging to Yassin Abdullah Kadi and the Al Barakaat International Foundation shortly after the 2001 terror attacks in the United States, on suspicion of ties to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

De Kerchove said the EU would "provide Mr Kadi and his lawyers with a statement of the reason why we considered he should be on the list -- the same for Al Barakaat -- and give them the chance to challenge the reasons."

He warned that the repercussions of the decision, based on the fact that the accused's rights had not been fully respected, could be far reaching.

"We may have to do that for others ... on the list and that is something on which we have to reflect and see to what extent the regulation will be amended," he warned.

The Luxembourg-based court ruled that the EU had failed to inform the two parties concerned of the grounds for the move, which in effect meant that their rights of defence -- especially the right to be heard -- were "patently not respected."

Judgment of the European Court of Justice in Joined Cases C-402/05 P & C-415/05 P
Kadi / Council and Commission

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