Press Release: Terrorist attacks: emergency measures for air transport

The European Union has mobilised to tackle the most pressing problems facing the European air transport industry which has been hard hit by the US terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001.In view of the magnitude of the crisis, the European Commission, considered it justified to adopt on 10 October 2001certain emergency measures, for a temporary period, to deal with the exceptional circumstances in which the industry finds itself following the terrorist attacks. The framework suggested by the Commission has several dimensions: possibilities of Community law (legislation on airport slots, State aid schemes), insurance problems, assumption of the additional costs of security and compensation for the direct losses suffered in the days following the attacks. It will enable Member States to act in concert and to avoid creating discriminatory situations. The Commission also intends to monitor developments closely and it will take rapid action should the current situation deteriorate.

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