25/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 23 January, the European Parliament transport committee adopted a first reading draft report by Austrian Socialist Jörg Leichtfried amending common civil aviation rules and setting up the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). MEPs, differing from the Commission, want to extend the responsibilities of the agency, granting it the right to monitor not only aviation as such, but also the actions of air companies. It will be empowered to impose fines and periodic payment penalties if safety standards are not fully met. It will also have responsibility for the renewal and delivery of certificates and licences, and for monitoring uniform safety standards. Stressing that “uniform safety standards at the highest level are our objective”, Mr Leightfried said that EASA would need “not only the theoretical but also real, practical powers to carry out the tasks it is entrusted with”. (amy)