Brussels, 25/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission adopted a regulation obliging airport staff to undergo security screening checks when entering security-sensitive zones of airports. "It is right and proper that airport staff should undergo at least the same levels of security checks as passengers”, said Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio. In the view of the Commission critical parts should at least include those areas of an airport containing screened departing passengers and their cabin baggage, and screened departing hold baggage that has not been sealed. Where bags have been sealed in such a way as to prevent their being interfered with, they then may be handled by unscreened staff. Member States will have until 1 July 2009 to apply the regulation in full (it comes into force on 1 July 2004, as stipulated by Regulation 2320/2002 on the establishment of common rules for civil aviation security, see EUROPE of 7 January 2003).