Brussels, 03/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc visited Zaventem airport on Tuesday 3 May to pay her respects to the victims of the terrorist attacks of 22 March. She then offered her support to airport staff currently working on the partial and particularly controversial reopening of the departures lounge.
New passenger and luggage screening procedures have been installed outside the lounge, similar to arrangements in operation in Israel. This is, however, causing long queues, much to the annoyance of passengers, staff and some Belgian politicians.
When asked about this issue, Commission transport spokesman Jakub Adamowicz pointed out that, while the Commission, indeed, advocated a proportionate approach, it could not under any circumstances intervene as security measures before checks at the gate were entirely a matter for the member states.
Regulation 300/2008 putting in place common security rules in area of civil aviation governs “airside” and not “landside” areas. At Zaventem, the level of airside security measures has always been judged to be excellent by Commission inspectors (see EUROPE 11536).
Transport ministers will discuss airport security on 7 June (see EUROPE 11533), taking as their starting point the recommendations of AVSEC, the European expert group on aviation security, which recommends a risk-based approach (see EUROPE 11523). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)