Brussels, 04/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - On 4 March, the Council adopted by qualified majority decision (UK abstained; Denmark and Luxemburg voted against), without discussion, the regulation establishing common civil aviation security rules (see EUROPE 9034). The adoption of this regulation ends almost three years of bitter debate between the European Parliament and the member states, particularly on how these security measures were to be financed. The final agreement was reached on 11 January through the conciliation procedure following an exchange of letters between the Council and the EP (wee EUROPE 9578). The regulation will replace regulation 2320/2002, adopted after the terrorist attacks in New York on 11 September 2001. It sets out common air security rules and basic standards (security in flight, carrying of luggage in the hold and cabin luggage, including the transport of arms, staff training, cargo transport, etc.) and mechanisms for monitoring compliance with these standards (see EUROPE 9569). The new directive also provides a common working framework for Annex 17(security: protection of international civil aviation against illegal acts) of the 1944 Chicago Convention on international civil aviation. The new rules will come into force on the 20th day after the publication of the regulation in the Official Journal of the EU. (A.By.)