Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. 2013 annual report on the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 on common rules in the field of civil aviation security

2013 can best be described as a year of consolidation of aviation security provisions and increased efforts to implement upcoming new rules for air cargo and the carriage of liquids in cabin baggage. The only remaining transitional period for the aviation security measures introduced by Regulation (EC) 300/2008 ended in April. This concerned the requirement for known consignors of air cargo and air mail to be approved by the appropriate authorities instead of a simple designation by an affiliated regulated agent. Commission inspections therefore put emphasis on verifying compliance with these new requirements.

Besides security alerts in August triggered by the United States, the year did not require any short term enhancements of aviation security controls in Europe. These security alerts also confirmed the need to improve cooperation between EU Member States and between States and Institutions. The High Level Report on the Strengthening of Air Cargo Security from 2010 already identified this need but further work in this area remains to be undertaken.

A key EU aviation security project is the phasing in of technology-based controls of liquids carried by passengers in their cabin baggage. Airport operators and security equipment manufacturers have enhanced cooperation throughout 2013 to best prepare for a partial lifting of the liquids restrictions as of 31 January 2014. The Commission is supporting this endeavor and other projects strengthening the detection performance of airport equipment and security measures with a Technology Roadmap first presented to stakeholders in 2013 and since continuously updated.

As regards EU inbound cargo and mail, another important EU aviation security project, the implementation date of 1 July 2014 is approaching. Throughout the second half of 2013 the Commission strengthened cooperation with Member States and industry to ensure a smooth implementation. Several efforts are under way to explain the enhanced EU system to third countries and to international organisations (European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)).

Throughout 2013 the Commission, together with Member States, continued its work on EU risk assessments in different areas by extending and adapting the methodology used for air cargo to other security areas with its first application focusing on passenger related risks.

On the international scene the Commission participated effectively in all relevant ICAO events where it increased the EU’s visibility and influence as regards aviation security policy internationally. The Commission is also fully engaged with key third country partners, and during 2013 organised and participated in several bilateral and multi-lateral meetings.

Monitoring the implementation of aviation security measures by Member States and relevant operators through EU inspections is another area in which close cooperation between Member States and Commission took place throughout the year. Compliance levels remained stable and did not require any suspension of the EU's One Stop Security System in 2013.

• Primary Source

EUR-Lex: COM(2014)399: Follow the progress of this report through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2014:399:FIN

---