EU to strengthen security with special focus on Yemen

A European action plan to strengthen air cargo security was released by the EU's vice-president Siim Kallas and commissioner Cecilia Malmström yesterday and confirmed that European regulators will examine specific security risks in Yemen as part of a strategy to deal with potential threats to air cargo.

The action plan is a response to the recent discovery of explosive devices concealed in air cargo originating from Yemen. The action plan will allow the emergency security measures put in place by several EU Member States to be replaced by a joint EU approach to address the new threat caused to civil aviation.

The transport Commissioner, Siim Kallas, said: "Security standards at European airports are widely acknowledged as being amongst the highest in the world. Our legislation already sets out stringent standards for air cargo security, but the threat is evolving and we must keep our defences under constant review. That is why we convened rapidly a high-level group involving Commission and Presidency to draw up a joint set of EU actions to address the new threat within a short timeframe.."

According to Air Transport Intelligence, New measures on dealing with cargo from non-European Union countries will be brought forward, says the Commission, backed by advice from a specialist air cargo working group.

"Criteria to identify cargo presenting a particular risk will be defined as well as a mechanism to allow for the evaluation of security standards of airports outside of the EU," the online ATI reported.

"Specific commitments on consignment security will be sought from EU carriers operating from non-EU countries."

Under the Commission's plan to reinforce air cargo security, research will aim to develop better screening technology while inspections will be carried out to ensure agreed security controls are properly implemented.

Kallas says the action plan includes a common EU threat-assessment capability, and aims to ensure vital information is shared quickly. He adds that information-sharing via ICAO should be strengthened and enhanced security rules quickly put in place by ICAO states.