By Henrietta Billings - 21st September 2005
Brussels has unveiled plans to tighten air security rules after lapses were discovered in anti-terror laws introduced after the September 11 attacks in the US.
Following the results of 40 European Commission in-flight and airport inspections since February 2004, security "shortcomings" prompted a revision of existing rules, published by Brussels on Thursday.
"The protection of aviation against terrorist attacks has considerably improved since the 2001 attacks," European Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot said in a statement.
"Nonetheless, the new regulation will enable us to be more effective and react faster to a threat which is constantly changing."
The updated proposals set common standards for handling cargo, in-flight security and passenger controls- extended to cover flights from outside the EU, and to allow EU inspectors to ensure that standards are applied.
Other improvements include flexibility provisions to allow the laws to be updated according to technological progress and lessons learnt from recent terrorist attacks.
The new rules have to be approved by the EU's 25 national governments and European Parliament before they can enter into force.
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