MEP refuses to back down over plan for tighter airport security

Date: 08/05/02

By Laurence Frost

THE MEP preparing the European Parliament's position on new airport security rules has warned against any watering down of the measures ahead of a crucial vote next week.

Jacqueline Foster says her plans for surprise security inspections and screening of aviation staff have met unexpected levels of resistance from some governments and other MEPs.

The second-reading vote on Tuesday (14 May) could put Parliament on course for conciliation negotiations with member states if, as expected, it endorses her proposals.

Airport security inspections are already carried out without prior warning in several member states.

But plans to broaden the scheme to all 15 countries in the bloc were rejected by transport ministers last December amid opposition from unidentified governments.

'They seem to feel that if there are going to be inspections at airports they should be flagged up in advance,' said Foster, a former British Airways cabin crew worker. 'That to my mind defeats the object.'

The proposed regulation on civil aviation security was drafted hastily by the European Commission in the days following the terrorist attacks in the US last September.

If approved, security rules listed in the European Civil Aviation Conference's 'Document 30' would be given the status of binding EU laws for the first time.

These include procedures for screening passengers and their baggage, searching aircraft and controlling access to sensitive parts of airports and aeroplanes, and a classification of potentially dangerous objects to be banned from aircraft cabins.

However, Foster's attempts to close a loophole to ensure that airport and airline staff are subject to the same screening procedure as passengers have proved controversial among MEPs.

Although the UK Conservative won a majority at last month's transport committee meeting, her plan met with strong opposition from German and Spanish conservatives.

'There's an assumption that any security dangers will come from the passenger side, which is clearly wrong,' said Foster.

She declined to comment on the votes of individual MEPs or national groups, but added: 'I don't see why there should be a different level of security for staff than for passengers - if we're going to have common rules we can't have people turning round and demanding exceptions.'

Foster has called for EU governments to pay an 'equitable proportion' of the costs of extra security - a requirement opposed by member states.

Her report is likely to be discussed at informal 'trilogue' talks between MEPs, Commission officials and Council of Ministers representatives in a bid to find a compromise before Tuesday's vote that would avoiding the need for lengthy conciliation negotiations.

But Foster suggested there was little room for a last-minute compromise on the 'practical and feasible' measures in her report.

'I'm not prepared to back off,' she said.

Jacqueline Foster, the MEP preparing the European Parliament's position on new airport security rules, has warned against any watering down of the measures ahead of a crucial vote on 14 May 2002.