Union certification system for aviation security screening equipment

Key points:

The EESC:

• welcomes the Commission's proposal as a first step in implementing the action plan;
• regrets that:
  • the proposal does not introduce a single EU approval authority with an integrated technical service, as this would have made for optimal efficiency and cost reduction;
  • the possibility of prescribing more stringent requirements at national level than the basic level provided for under that regulation is not reflected in the Proposal;
  • the TFEU does not allow dedicated national action to protect essential national interests against terrorist acts, in line with Article 346 TFEU or to public procurement under Article 15 of Directive 2014/24 on public procurement;
  • no consideration seems to have been given to the possibility of including a system for exchange of information and coordination between the different national approval authorities;
• welcomes in principle the proposal that the EU should seek to become a full member of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC);
• has doubts about the added value of the proposal as it now stands and would therefore ask the Commission to reconsider its content with a view to taking on board the observations made in this opinion.

Previous EESC opinions:

• Security Industrial Policy (INT/663 - CESE 2118-2012)
• Marketing of products/Accreditation and market surveillance (INT/352 - CESE 1693-2007)
• Common framework for the marketing of products (INT/353 - CESE 1693-2007)
• National technical rules/Marketed products (INT/354 - CESE 1693-2007)
• Occurrence reporting in civil aviation (TEN/510 - CESE 926-2013)

Other related EESC opinions:

• Aviation Package I (TEN/581 - CESE 95-2016)
• Integrated EU Aviation Policy (TEN/569 – CESE 1083-2015)

For more information please contact the INT Section Secretariat.