STRASBOURG, France -- European countries that agree to take in Guantánamo detainees may be in line for financial aid, the EU justice chief said Tuesday.

The major parties in the European Parliament are urging EU nations to accept some 45 inmates from the U.S. military prison in Guantánamo Bay, which President Barack Obama has ordered shut down within a year.

Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot assured EU lawmakers that the United States would have to carefully check inmates and their backgrounds before sending them to Europe, to make sure they are not a security threat.

But he also said countries that agree to host detainees could get ``possible financial aid to ease reception.''

He gave no details about the potential aid, and it was unclear if it would be available to European countries that are not part of the 27-nation EU.

The prison has come to symbolize the war on terror of former President George W. Bush, and the EU lawmakers said its closure would help restore their faith in the U.S.

Last week Obama gave a U.S. task force 30 days to recommend where to put the 245 remaining detainees.

''Europe has to speak with one voice. We would be wrong to say no,'' said Liberal Alde Group leader Graham Watson, who along with other parliamentarians said EU states should cooperate with the new U.S. administration.

Socialist Group President Martin Schulz said Europe should help Obama as he ``is coming out with a show of symbolic power.''

Several EU nations led by Portugal have said they could be willing to take in Guantánamo's prisoners, but none has given a definitive answer.

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