THE EUROPEAN Commission has sought an explanation from the Slovak authorities over the botched security test in which a man travelling to Dublin from Poprad-Tatry airport flew with explosives planted in his luggage.
“We would like to know what happened,” said a commission spokesman last night. On Wednesday, a day after news of the incident emerged, the commission would not say whether it deemed the incident acceptable.
The commission spokesman declined to comment on the specific nature of the inquiries by the EU executive.
European law requires member states to carry out security tests at airports but does not prescribe details as to how those tests should be conducted. However, the commission monitors compliance with the regulations that govern the system.
Separately yesterday, the commission said it was “considering an initiative on imaging technology to reinforce passenger security, while at the same time addressing the conditions for using such technology, in particular, privacy, data protection and health issues”.
Although European Union law does not govern the use of body-scanners by member states, an EU committee of experts yesterday came to the unanimous conclusion that a union-wide approach was needed.
In 2008 the European Parliament rejected a commission proposal on aviation security which mentioned that body-scanners were a potential security tool.
The reference to body-scanners was subsequently deleted as the commission pledged to address concerns in the parliament about data protection, health issues and fundamental rights.
However, scanners are back on the EU agenda following the failed attempt to blow up a passenger jet travelling to Detroit on Christmas Day. “The committee unanimously underlined the need for an EU approach to addressing the security situation, including on the use of imaging technology – commonly referred to as body-scanners – as one means for screening passengers,” said a statement from the EU regulatory committee for civil aviation security.