WRITTEN QUESTION E-2736/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(5 October 2001)

Subject: Maintenance of security at airports by public rather than private services

1. Is the Commission aware that, in the United States, in the aftermath of the use of passenger aircraft as flying bombs on 11 September, a new debate has begun concerning the role of the public authorities in providing security against terrorist attacks at airports by preventing people with terrorist intentions from boarding aircraft, in which connection it is being urged that the police or military personnel assume a more prominent role rather than allowing the public authorities to retain ultimate responsibility only on paper for work performed by private security services?

2. In which EU Member States are private rather than public security services used to secure airports and/or aircraft? Are there Member States where this is not the case but which had plans for adopting this approach?

3. Where private companies are used, what is done to prevent the companies concerned from economising on manpower in order to protect profit margins, with the result that ever smaller samples come to be checked?

4. Where private companies are used, what is done to prevent measures from being taken which are in the commercial interest of airport enterprises (e.g. making shops accessible) or of airlines (accelerating the admission of passengers to aircraft) but only to a lesser extent in the interests of passenger safety or the safety of society as a whole?

5. Is it possible and desirable to take measures at EU level to increase the role of public services in aviation security and reduce that of private enterprise?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(18 December 2001)

1. Member States are responsible for aviation security. In nearly all Member States this responsibility is vested in the Ministry of Transport whilst in two Member States it is vested in the Ministry of Justice and Ministry for Home Affairs.

In reality aviation security is assured by a close and necessary co-operation between intelligence, police, transport and aviation security services.

2. It is true that the high profile security activities at airports (passenger screening, hand baggage screening) have been contracted out to private security firms and personnel. However, supervision and quality control remain with the national aviation security authorities in accordance with internationally recognised standards and requirements. Member States are responsible for the organisation of the security services and there is no possibility for the Community to interfere in this field.

3. The minimum number of physical searches of passengers' hand baggage is laid down in international recommendations (European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC Document 30) and the current objective of ECAC contracting States is to achieve 100 % screening of all hold baggage by 31 December 2002. Latest indication shows that within the Community this target will be largely achieved.

4. To strengthen aviation security measures throughout the Community the Commission proposed legislation(1) to ensure implementation of the above-mentioned objectives through the transposition into Community law of the ECAC Document 30 recommendations and the establishment of a control mechanism to ensure their effective enforcement. This proposal takes into account the need for improvement in the recruitment techniques, training and quality control of such personnel highlighted in the report of 16 October 2001 presented by the ad hoc group created by the Commission as requested by the Council on 14 September.

5. When the regulation will be adopted, all airlines and airports will be obliged to follow the Community standards and would not be able to decide by their own on the balance between security and facilitation measures. If they want to maintain an acceptable level of quality to their passengers and avoid lengthy queue which could affect the image of air transport, they would have to accept to increase the resources allocated to aviation security.

(1) Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing common rules in the field of civil aviation security COM(2001) 575 final of 10.10.2001.