Brussels, 19/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission declined to make any comment on Thursday 19 May on the crash of EgyptAir flight MS804 which went down off the Greek coast the previous night, declaring that it was still too early for any conclusions to be drawn.
Some, however, are speculating. According to a source close to the matter, were it to be confirmed that the crash was the result of a terrorist attack, this could affect relations in the aviation sector between the EU and Egypt. This would be the third incidence of a terrorist act on a flight travelling to or from Egypt.
On 29 March, a plane was hijacked between Alexandria and Cyprus by an individual later diagnosed as being “psychologically unstable”. On 31 October 2015, an Airbus belonging to the Russian airline MetroJet exploded in mid-air on a flight from Sharm el-Sheik to St Petersburg. Daesh later claimed responsibility for this terrorist attack.
Thus, according to the same source, these latest tragic events “could” push the Commission to seek a mandate to negotiate a general agreement with Egypt to replace the many bilateral agreements with the aim of improving the already high security standards in Egyptian airports. Currently security standards are defined by an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) international a minima framework. Another observer who is closely following this matter suggests that the least that can be said is that such a scenario remains hypothetical, pointing out that general negotiating mandates focus mainly on economic matters, with some elements relating to technical security (supervision, etc.).
It is true that the European aviation strategy does not mention Egypt among the states or groups of states for which the Commission is seeking comprehensive and cross-cutting negotiating mandates (see EUROPE 11438). This situation is dynamic, however, and could evolve with events and geo-political developments, a source says, citing the example of Iran which, in light of the latest developments, could be the subject of just such a negotiating mandate (see EUROPE 11534). The Commission is expected at the next Transport Council on 7 June to be given mandates for negotiations with certain Gulf States which are causing concern among a number of member states, with the countries of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and, perhaps, with Turkey.
If the crash turns out to have been caused by a terrorist act, eyes will necessarily turn to the Charles de Gaulle Airport from which the Airbus 320 took off. “It is unlikely that major security failings will be found”, we have been told, since the airport performed well in the last inspections by the Commission. Since the Brussels attacks of 22 March, the media spotlight has been firmly trained on airports. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)