Global efforts mount to put safety first

Article forms part of Financial Times Survey on Aerospace. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001 global efforts are being made to improve airline security. However, eleven months after the attacks, 11 Member States have still been unable to agree on a united response to harmonise security standards at airports. Draft plans drawn up by the European Commission in October 2001 had been expected to win approval by April 2002 but there have been disagreements among Member States over financing and security checks for personnel which have delayed proceedings until Autumn 2002.