Brussels, 10/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - Following discussions about air freight security, the European Parliament transport committee decided on Tuesday 9 November to draft their own report on this question. Proposals from MEPs will be included in the own initiative report of Luis de Grandes Pascual (EPP, Spain), which focuses on the European Commission communication on security scanners (EUROPE 10252). The adoption of the report, planned for May, is expected to precede legislative proposals on common minimum standards for using body scanners in European airports, which the European Commission intends to present in the first half of 2011.
As proposed by Brian Simpson (S&D, United Kingdom), the same report is also expected to include other factors related to air travel and airport security. Although most of the members of the Commission acknowledged, during a debate on Tuesday morning, that the introduction of body scanners into airports could be “useful”, they still have a number of concerns with regard to how the scanners are used. Timothy Kirkhope (ECR, United Kingdom) regretted the lack of coordination between member states and, supported by a Jörg Leichtfried (S&D, Austria), appealed for public funds for introducing this new scanning technology. Knut Fleckenstein (S&D, Germany) said that member states should maintain their freedom of decision-making with regard to this measure. European legislation should, nonetheless, ensure a balanced level of protection between the health and privacy of airline passengers. Saïd El Khadraoui (S&D, Belgium), on the other hand, highlighted the need for a common European legal framework, which would frame decisions taken unilaterally by member states. Eva Lichtenberger MEP (Greens/EFA, Austria) called for a cautious approach. She said that the results from security scanner trials had not been reassuring and that the advantages had been exaggerated. Spyros Danellis (S&D, Greece), however, proposed that scanners be withdrawn if the system proves inefficient. Augustin Diaz De Mera Garcia Consuegra (EPP, Spain) proposes concrete measures to protect the privacy and health of people subject to security scans. According to the latter, scan imaging should be immediately destroyed and pregnant women and children should be inspected differently. Other MEPs, such as Simpson, insisted on measures for anticipating terrorist threats, which would consist of better coordination of intelligence and passenger observations. (A.By./transl.fl)