WRITTEN QUESTION P-2665/01

by Brice Hortefeux (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 September 2001)

Subject: Air transport safety

The recent terrorist attacks in the United States, which are likely to have repercussions in Europe, are a reminder of the urgent need to deal with the issue of air safety.

This is an extremely complex issue, particularly in view of the fact that the European Union only has very limited jurisdiction in this area (luggage checks are one of the few aspects under its responsibility). Air safety mostly comes under the responsibility of the Member States.

In view of the above:

1. Does the Commission intend to prepare a catalogue of specific measures which could serve as a starting point for the Member States?

2. Does it intend to speed up the project to set up a single air traffic control system in Europe, which would make integrated management of its airspace possible?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(5 November 2001)

It is true that to date responsibility for aviation security has been mainly vested in the National Authorities and regulated in conformity with international standards, requirements and recommended best practices, even if some aspects of Community law address that question indirectly. The events of 11 September 2001 show that Member States now all face the same terrorist threat and must therefore formulate a collective response based on common preventative measures.

The Commission on 10 October 2001 proposed the adoption and enforcement of common Community security rules for civil aviation by means of a Parliament and Council Regulation(1). The incorporation of these rules into Community law will enable them to be applied in an effective manner and this process will be subject to continuous control.

The common rules will cover:

- control of access to sensitive areas of airports and aircraft;

- control of passengers and their hand luggage;

- control and monitoring of hold luggage;

- control of cargo and mail;

- training of ground staff;

- definition of specifications for the equipment for the above controls;

- classification of weapons and others items which it is prohibited to bring on to aircraft or into the sensitive areas of airports;

and will aim at increased control of both international and domestic flights.

In view of the degree of technical detail of the standards to be implemented, the Commission proposes to be given the appropriate executive powers to adopt the necessary implementing measures. Such measures will be implemented gradually in a realistic manner to take account of the time needed to train personnel and alter infrastructure. In the event of a more specific threat, Member States will be able to adopt special measures. For its part, the Commission intends to ensure that the Community measures are able to evolve in line with the nature of any threat.

Furthermore, as requested by the Heads of State and Government, a mechanism for controlling the application of these rules is currently being set up. In its Regulation, the Commission proposes that in future the mechanism should be based on the establishment of a quality control system to be implemented by a national authority designated by the Member States. The systems set up by the national authorities will themselves be monitored by trained multinational teams of inspectors backed up by a light inspection body set up within the Commission.

The Commission also adopted on the same day a package of measures on the single sky which include, interalia, a proposal for a Regulation dealing with the integrated management of the European airspace(2).

(1) COM(2001) 575 final.

(2) COM(2001) 564 final.