Brussels, 07/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - During a meeting held in Brussels on January 5, European Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas and US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano (see EUROPE 10288) agreed to work together for a common and coordinated approach to air cargo security. A common approach will be valid not only bilaterally but also through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The objective is to ensure measures taken on air cargo security are compatible on both sides of the Atlantic. Both parties agreed that air passenger security remains a serious challenge and that there should be an exchange of experience regarding the use of security scanners in US and EU airports. Commissioner Kallas also confirmed the EU's intention to replace the restrictions on carry-on liquids with an obligation to screen liquids, by the end of April 2011 as provided by the relevant EU legislation (see EUROPE 10129). The meeting also allowed continued scrutiny of the implications of the emergency amendments introduced by the United States on the flow of mail between Europe and the United States. According to AFP, the US government above all calls for efforts to be stepped up to detect and track 14 chemical precursors allowing explosives to be manufactured.
On Thursday 6 January, Napolitano announced a new partnership between the United States and the World Customs Organisation (WCO), with a view to ensuring security of the international supply chain. In a speech delivered at the European Policy Centre, the US secretary of state for homeland security explained that the new measures taken at international level should: - prevent terrorists from exploiting the global supply chain to plan and execute attacks; - protect the most critical elements of the supply chain system, such as transportation hubs and related critical infrastructure, from attacks and disruption; and - build the resilience of the global supply chain to ensure that, if something does happen, the supply chain can recover quickly. According to Washington, supported by the WCO authorities, it is of prime importance to set in place an approach based on risk at international levels. It is also important to strengthen scanning standards and to allow better monitoring of the detection of chemical precursors. (A.By./transl.jl)