Brussels, 06/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - Member states will send their aeronautical experts to Brussels on Thursday 7 January for a meeting to draw the lessons from the failed terrorist attack on the Amsterdam-Detroit flight on 25 December. At the meeting, European experts will discuss measures put in place by each of the member states, and will also assess the unilateral measures taken by the United States. One of the main issues for discussion will be the introduction of body scanners in airports, a move recommended by the United States and one that has already been backed by a number of European countries, such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Italy also plans to use these scanners, and France announced on Tuesday the formation of a working group which will bring forward proposals within the month. Germany, which had been fiercely opposed to the introduction of scanners, now backs their use. In autumn 2008, in the face of opposition from MEPs, the Commission withdrew its draft regulation on the introduction of body scanners in European airports. There is nothing, however, to prevent individual member states from putting such systems in place in their airports. At this point, the European Commission wants to ensure that there is no panic reaction. “We want a factual analysis to be carried out. We must not react hastily. We have to systematically take new steps each time there is an attempted terrorist attack,” said a highly-placed European executive official. He said that the first thing to do was to ascertain the effectiveness of body scanners: “Can body scanners detect 80 grammes of explosives hidden on the body?” At the same time, the cost has to be weighed against any potential benefits, given that a scanner costs around €700,000, compared with €35,000 for a traditional detector portal. Then, the impact of this technology on the health of frequent travellers and airport staff - and on protection of privacy - will have to be assessed. With this whole series of questions to be considered with member states, Thursday's expert meeting is eagerly awaited. At European level, this sensitive issue has been given to Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani to deal with. Given, however, the transatlantic nature of the matter, Director of DG Justice, Freedom and Security Jonathan Faull would like US Secretary for Homeland Security Janet Napolitano to attend the informal meeting of EU home affairs ministers in Toledo on 21-22 January, to set out the measures taken by the United States. (B.C./transl.rt)