Air transport: common rules for civil aviation security

The committee adopted the report by Jacqueline Foster (EPP-ED, UK) amending the Council's common position under the second reading of the codecision procedure. It retabled a number of amendments adopted by Parliament at first reading, which had not been taken up in the common position. In particular, it called on the Commission to submit proposals for uniform arrangements in the Member States for the financing of security measures, to prevent distortions of competition. It also restated Parliament's call for coordinated action by the Member States to draw up a comprehensive policy for financing and guaranteeing the highest possible level of security for air travel. Other retabled amendments called for explicit reference to be made to ECAC Document 30 on aviation security measures, for inspections to be unannounced, for an assessment of action taken to be submitted to the budgetary authority and for a mechanism to assess whether third country airports meet essential security requirements. The committee also amended the new text in the common position on airport and air carrier security programmes. It stipulated that Member States should shoulder an equitable share of the costs of those programmes on the grounds that ensuring citizens' safety from terrorist attacks is a state responsibility. In addition, the committee adopted a number of new technical amendments on security measures at airports (relating to detectors, the screening of staff and their access to restricted areas and baggage). Lastly, it called for certain provisions of the Annex (on screening of hold baggage, on cargo, courrier and express parcels and on mail) to enter into force on 31 December 2003, rather than 31 December 2002 as proposed by the Council, so as to give airports and airlines more time to buy the necessary equipment and train staff.�