Brussels, 06/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 6 July, the European Parliament took a stance in favour of harmonising the use of body scanners within the European Union, subject to conditions, with a view to contributing to the fight against terrorism and civil aviation security. Body scanners are more effective than metal detectors, which are currently used in airports, as they allow scanning for dangerous objects hidden under clothing, even if those objects are made of plastic or are in liquid form.
During debates preceding the vote, MEPs expressed concern about health-related risks, data protection and fundamental freedoms. That is why the report by Luis de Grandes Pascual (EPP, Spain), adopted in Wednesday's plenary, sets out a series of reservations.
Health. Only scanners using the millimetre wave technology will be authorised (as is already the case at Amsterdam-Schiphol) since these do not have an impact on health - unlike the X ray scanners, as ionising radiation may in time prove harmful for human health (although this system is used at London-Heathrow).
Data protection and protection of privacy. The EP does not want precise images of the body through body scanners, but simply a silhouette showing data relevant to security. Information thus obtained should only be used for aviation security and may not be stored.
Alternatives. Passengers will have a choice. They may, or not, agree to screening with the body scanner. In the event of passenger refusal (e.g. for pregnant women or people wearing medical devices), an alternative inspection system should be provided.
Thus, with its vote, the EP trusts it will add body scanning technology to the other methods of screening currently authorised under European legislation. Member states will nonetheless remain free to use body scanning, or not, and even to establish stricter rules than those envisaged by Parliament at this stage. European Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas undertook to rapidly set out legislative proposals on the basis of the report by Grandes Pascual. The rapporteur for civil liberties, Judith Sargentini (Greens/EFA, the Netherlands), pointed out that body scanning technology would rapidly extend to sectors other than aviation (justice, public transport) and that it was not up to the market to dictate standards, but up to the institutions. (Cor./transl.jl)