No decision has been taken involving the possible extension of a ban on laptops aboard aircraft taking off from European Union airports.
This was a result of the meeting that took place on Wednesday 17 May between Commissioner Violeta Bulc (Transport), Dimitris Avramopoulos (Internal Affairs) and a delegation from the US, including the Deputy Secretary of State for Homeland Security, Elaine Duke. Although it has not been ruled out that EU airports are included on this list in the long-term, this is not currently the case.
The participants at this meeting also exchanged observations regarding the threats to aviation security and ways of combating them. The different parties reaffirmed their commitment to work in close cooperation in an effort to ensure passenger safety and the effective functioning of air-traffic. They also announced another meeting would take place next week in Washington DC in this regard.
It should be pointed out that this meeting followed a telephone conference between ministers from member states and the US authorities last Friday (see EUROPE 11787), after which EU officials learned that the US was planning to include certain Union airports in the list of those where travellers have to put their laptops in the hold when they take off. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)