By Martin Banks - 1st September 2010
The facts in this case are still unclear
Gilles de Kerchove
Gilles de Kerchove, the EU's counter-terrorism coordinator, has said the arrest of two terror suspects at Amsterdam airport highlights the "continuing threat" to aviation in Europe.
The Belgian also called for more security measures, including the installation of full body scanners, at all European airports.
"At present they are only being trialled at certain airports and that is not enough," he said.
His comments come in the wake of the arrests of two men at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport on Monday. Both are being held by Dutch police after "suspicious" items were found in their luggage.
Speaking exclusively to this website, de Kerchove said the incident illustrated the importance of "remaining vigilant."
He said the proposed Passenger Name Records data-sharing deal, due to come into force later this year, will also help in the fight against terror.
"This needs to be adopted as soon as possible."
"The facts in this case are still unclear and it would be wrong to draw conclusions too soon," said the Brussels-based official. "But the measures taken appear to have been effective and the cooperation excellent."
He added, "Cooperation between the EU and US has been stepped up since Detroit but this latest incident illustrates that aviation is still a potential terrorist target. We must remain vigilant and not under-estimate the threat."
Reacting to the incident, UK Conservative MEP Timothy Kirkhope said, "As we begin negotiations with the USA regarding a new Passenger Name Records data-sharing deal, this incident highlights the importance of sharing information on terrorist suspects between the EU and the USA.
"Conservative MEPs have worked hard to make sure that we have proper exchange of information with US authorities designed to stop terrorism and to make travel safer. These events show that there is still more to be done."
Fellow UK deputy Claude Moraes, the S&D group's spokesperson on civil liberties, home affairs and justice, said, "Regardless of the results of the investigation on the two suspects, it is astonishing that the US security system did not prevent abandoned luggage being carried from Chicago to Washington.
"Following the 9/11 terrorist attack, the US have been insisting with their European partners on the need of collecting citizens bulk data and introducing sophisticated technologies to prevent new threats.
"Unfortunately, databanks and body scanners can do really little when basic security measures and procedures are not implemented. There is no point in collecting masses of data if they are not properly analysed. What we need is good police cooperation on the ground to combat terrorism together.
"Ahead of a new round of EU-US negotiations on the Passenger Name Record (PNR) agreement, we expect Washington to examine their approach to security and understand that what we need is not more but better," said Moraes.
Dutch Greens MEP Judith Sargentini, a member of parliament's civil liberties, justice and home affairs committee, said the incident gave "cause for real concern."
She said, "My question is: how on earth were these two men allowed to travel separately from their luggage as, apparently, happened? That seems to break the No.1 rule of air travel. It seems they were thoroughly checked in the US but still allowed to board planes to Europe. Aspects of this incident represent a serious security lapse that needs investigating."
Another Dutch MEP, Toine Manders, however, said the incident highlighted "effective" cooperation between the EU and US in combating terror.
He said, "The Dutch authorities were notified of the suspicious items and effective action was then taken. I am satisfied everything possible was done."
