Brussels, 12/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 10 November, a large majority of the members of the European Parliament's transport committee took a stance in favour of lifting the restrictions imposed on the transport of liquids in air passengers' hand luggage after the thwarted attacks in London in 2006 (EUROPE 9280) more quickly than proposed by the European Commission. Before exchanging views on this with the Commission, which is expected to submit its proposal to the expert committee on aviation security on 18 November (EUROPE 9995), the coordinators of the transport committee adopted a common position proposing 1 January 2013 as a deadline for lifting these restrictions, thanks to the introduction in all European airports of scanning systems able to detect liquids, gels and/or dangerous sprays. They also suggest that, from 2010, the Commission should take transit passengers in charge and authorise, subject to certain conditions, liquids bought in third country airports or on board aircraft of non-Community airlines to be transported beyond security checkpoints. Although opinions differ between MEPs and the Commission on this last point, the question of deadlines for bringing in the scanning technology could become a really thorny problem for all parties involved during adoption of the proposal - the Parliament, whose members are not unanimous on the matter, member states some of which (e.g. the United Kingdom) prefer additional guarantees concerning the effectiveness of the technology, and also the industry (airports), responsible for introducing the technology.
Speaking during the debate on behalf of the EPP Group, Mathieu Grosch of Belgium said that the date 2012-2013 would be more acceptable than 2014 as proposed by the Commission, but warned that, with the Parliament's veto, the “situation will be even more serious”. On behalf of the Greens, Michael Cramer of Germany questioned the reliability of the scanning technology, while his Belgian colleague, Isabelle Durant, called for a “security-cost-benefit” analysis before reflecting on new measures. In a press release, Eva Lichtenberger (Greens, Austria) warned against the cost of bringing in scanning machines, calling on behalf of her group on the Commission, Parliament and Council to allow the restrictions regulation to expire, as foreseen, in April 2010. Speaking for the S&D Group, Saïd El Khadraoui opted for a “period of transition” (between expiry of the current regulation and the lifting of restrictions) that is “as short as possible”. Presented during the last Transport Council, the Commission's proposal provides for a staggered approach to the lifting of restrictions in parallel with the gradual and binding introduction of scanning technology. From 2010 on, restrictions would be lifted on liquids bought in an airport or on board a third country aircraft on condition that the passenger has proof that the liquid was purchased in the “duty free” area and that the container has not been tampered with. Then, airports where over 10 million passengers transit, will have until 29 April 2012 to introduce scanning technology allowing liquids to be examined, followed by all airports, which will have until 29 April 2014 at the latest. “No one is ready” for the immediate lifting of restrictions, said Daniel Calleja, DG TREN Director, during the debate. He pointed out that restrictions have been introduced for security reasons, saying that the terrorist threat is still present and that neither airports nor member states, which “have not even launched procedures for the supply of these machines”, were ready. The Commission, which does not wish to maintain restrictions indefinitely, nonetheless hopes they will be lifted in a “serious” way, he said. (A.By./transl.jl)