Brussels, 06/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - The regulation on establishing common rules in the field of civil aviation safety was published in the Official Journal L 355/1 of 30 December 2002 and will come into force twenty days after its publication.
The regulation, which will apply to any airport within Community territory, mainly provides for the immediate strengthening of controls on access to airports (permanent access control, verification of the antecedents of those allowed to enter) and inspections to be carried out on passengers, luggage (hand luggage and that placed in the hold) and, above all, on the members of staff, including the flight crew, and their luggage. The latter will be checked before being allowed to enter the "regulated access safety areas" (areas requiring an access badge). Furthermore, one year after the entry into force of the regulation, inspection will be compulsory in certain "critical parts" of these areas (for examining the areas for access to aircraft). These will be first of all designated at national level. Then, from July 2004, the Commission will begin a phase of harmonisation so that these critical parts are identical throughout the Community territory five years at the latest after they have been adopted by the Commission. Finally, on-the-spot checks will be carried out in airports, in order to verify that these new measures are being correctly implemented by the Member States, six months after the regulation takes effect. Officials, mandated by the Commission, will accompany national officials responsible for carrying out inspections. The Member States will be informed of their arrival.
The regulation does not provide for any provisions concerning the funding of such measures, since the Council has refused to pledge to cover part of their cost. Instead, as agreed during conciliation procedure (see EUROPE of 1 November, p.11, and November, p.12), the Council recognises in an interinstitutional declaration (attached to the regulation), which is politically but not legally binding, the need to prevent major internal and external competition distortion on Community territory. It also states that the question of financing must be studied as a matter of urgency in order to identify not only the differences that exist within the Community with regards the financing of aviation safety but also the possible solutions. The Commission must submit an analysis on this subject to begin next spring and, where necessary, will make proposals.