Brussels, 22/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - The United Kingdom leaving the European Union could have serious consequences on airport security, according to a statement made by Augustin de Romanet, the president of the organisation representing European airports, ACI-Europe, on Tuesday 21 June, during the annual congress in Athens.
Mr de Romanet pointed out that airline passenger safety was not just the result of increasing safety mechanisms but were, above all, due to an increase in the exchange of intelligence between member states' services, as well as through improved coordination between them. This refrain has been repeated for a long time by the airports calling for financial support from member states to tackle rising costs linked to passenger safety (see EUROPE 11411).
"Let us be clear: efficient, robust security is ot and has never been about stopping terrorists once they are at an airport. It is about detecting and stopping them before they ever reach an airport….or a train station…or a concert hall", he explained. The European Commission approach is based more on proportionate action (see EUROPE 11522) based on risk (see EUROPE 11523), which he believes is the appropriate solution.
The question of the United Kingdom leaving the EU will be decided in a referendum on Thursday 23 June. If it leaves, Mr de Romanet said that "the possible consequences go well beyond aviation interests". The British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) plays a crucial role in the exchange of information within the Union in the fight against terrorism. Mr de Romanet said that the consequences resulting from possibly reduced cooperation with the services would certainly have significant repercussions in the medium term.
The economic impact is also worrying the President of the ACI. He considers that a Brexit could have a damaging effect on the growth of airline connections in Europe. The London Heathrow airport is, for example, the biggest airport in Europe in terms of passenger numbers. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)