Parliamentary question - E-0978/2007Parliamentary question
E-0978/2007

Security requirements at airports

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0978/07
by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) and Edith Mastenbroek (PSE)
to the Commission

During a working visit to Schiphol airport, our delegation from the Dutch Labour Party established that the airport's management had serious doubts about the new security measure banning passengers from carrying more than 100 ml of fluid in their hand luggage. At the same time a trial is being conducted with a holographic scanner which can replace many of the existing checks. That will mean less complicated procedures, less destruction of banned products and smaller losses for airport shops.

1. Is the Commission aware of this new technology, which works by means of holographic scans? Has the Commission investigated the opportunities and advantages which new technologies could have? If not, could the Commission do so?

2. Can the Commission prevent the introduction of more stringent requirements relating to the dimensions of the one item of hand luggage permitted, which would cause major problems for transfer passengers and long waiting times and delays, while the measure would not serve any convincing security purpose?

3. Can the Commission focus European discussions concerning the matters referred to in paragraph 2 on good and quick scanning of the one item of hand luggage instead of expending energy on dimensions and the like?

OJ C 293, 05/12/2007