Brussels, 29/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided - in some cases - to postpone the end of the ban on liquids on board aircraft, which was to take effect on Friday 29 April.
“Today, Vice-President of the Commission, Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, is advising EU Member States to defer for a limited period the removal of restrictions on the carriage of duty free liquids in hand luggage, originally due on 29 April 2011”, the Commission states in a press release published the same day. It explains that its decision aims to “avoid a situation which would not have facilitated travel but rather caused confusion for passengers”. The Commission also affirms that it will review the situation with member states and consult with the United States, which is one of the main destinations of flights from Europe (20% of European flights leave for North America). The US air safety administration has still not approved the lighter safety standards that entered into force on Friday. The Commission gives its assurance that it remains in regular contact with the United States which, like the EU, hopes to lift all restrictions on carrying liquids by 2013.
At the same time, a growing number of member states including France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom were opposed to lifting this ban, in many cases saying there were shortcomings in the safety and technology situation (see EUROPE 10345). Others, like Slovakia, have not taken a stance while nine member states, including Germany, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Denmark, Ireland and Hungary, were ready to introduce the new scheme. If the measure had taken effect, passengers on flights between Moscow and London via Frankfurt would have been able to buy alcohol in duty-free stores in the Moscow airport zone without having to drink it or hand it over to customs in Frankfurt. On the other hand, if they were to go from Moscow to London via Paris, then they would be forced to get rid of the products purchased.
The European Commission felt that the ban on carrying liquids in hand luggage on board aircraft, decided as a measure to counter terrorism, could be gradually phased out, as new technology allows the necessary screening to be carried out.
Siim Kallas said he had “noted” the opposition expressed by several states to his proposal and that he had decided to defer implementation for fear that this might create too much confusion among air passengers. “My main objective is to make life easier for air travellers”, he states in a press release. “The restrictions on carrying 'duty-free' liquids purchased outside the EU through European airports should remain in place until passengers can travel with certainty”, the commissioner went on to say. One of the Commission spokesmen said on Friday that “all member states have given their agreement” for application of the recommendation. “The countries that intended to bring in the new regime agree to drop the idea”, he said.
The Commission's decision was welcomed by the aviation sector. “Under the circumstances, this deferral is the 'least worst' solution”, said Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus, Association of European Airlines (AEA) Secretary General. He pointed out that the AEA was not against lifting restrictions but preferred for this to be done as part of a “harmonised approach”. (A.By./transl.jl)