ACI EUROPE and AEA Joint Debate on Terrorism, Aviation & European Economies

ACI EUROPE and AEA Joint Debate on Terrorism-1

Olivier Jankovec, Director General, ACI EUROPE; David Trembaczowski-Ryder, Head of Aviation Security, ACI EUROPE; Carlos Mestre, Head of the Aviation Security Unit, DG MOVE, European Commission; Bart Mos, Senior Security Officer, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol; and Wilfried Covent, Head of Security, Brussels Airport.

In the weeks and months following the terror attacks in Brussels, landside security at airports became a hot topic with a number of national governments and at EU level. ACI EUROPE issued a number of clarifying statements and secured the support of other organisations and institutions, in underlining how indiscriminate and public the attacks were.

On 24 May, ACI EUROPE co-hosted with the Association of European Airlines (AEA) and Hilde Vautmans MEP (Member of the European Parliament) a debate dedicated to the aftermath of the terror attacks in Brussels. The debate comprised of 2 panel sessions – one on airport security and the other on post-attack management by airlines and travel authorities. It took place at ACI EUROPE’s offices and was attended by more than 45 people, including representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the media.

High-level speakers included Wilfried Covent, Head of Security at Brussels Airport, Bart Mos, Senior Security Officer at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Carlos Mestre, Head of the Aviation Security Unit at DG MOVE, European Commission, in the ACI EUROPE-led panel session on airport security.

The AEA-led second panel session focused on the impact of the attacks on airlines, passengers and the economy, with speakers from Brussels Airlines, the Belgian Travel Organisation, VisitBrussels and the AEA.

ACI EUROPE and AEA Joint Debate on Terrorism-2

Olivier Jankovec, Director General, ACI EUROPE; Hilde Vautmans MEP; and Athar Husain Khan, CEO Association of European Airlines.

Key points addressed during the debate included the gap between policy-making and implementation, the need for better assessment and use of new technology, and for governments, their agencies and institutions to work much more closely together to improve intelligence-sharing. In her role in the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Security, Hilde Vautmans MEP is advocating for enhancing the powers of EUROPOL, to create a real European Intelligence Agency. She is also calling for these efforts to be matched domestically with de-radicalisation programmes.

Ms Vautmans summed up the points made, sentiments expressed and lessons to bear in mind going forward, remarking “Our airports are the gateway to the world. They play an essential role in a mature economy. They are important for the European economy. Employment booms when an airport flourishes. They must be protected and inspire trust. This seminar was about matching airport security and the need to restore faith and trust. For our security and for our economic well-being. Let’s not fool ourselves, 100% airport security does not exist. It is quite clear that it is very hard to stop an individual suicide-bomber. We need to find a balance between free movement of people and business on the one hand and security on the other.”


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