Irish to lead industry charge at European transport meeting

Gavin Lipsith

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Irish minister for transport Martin Cullen is expected to push the industry’s security agenda into the spotlight at tomorrow’s meeting of European transport ministers in Brussels

The duty-free industry’s stance on current aviation security standards on liquids will reach a critical moment tomorrow when Irish minister for transport Martin Cullen will intervene at a European Union Transport Council meeting to establish support for the cause. At the meeting, which is likely to be dominated by debate on the proposed Blue Skies agreement between the US and Europe, Cullen will initiate a discussion on the EU’s aviation security regulations and how these are affecting transfer passengers travelling to and from European airports.

 
The move comes as countries around the world continue to implement new liquid regulations, exacerbating problems for transfer passengers and leading to thousands of tonnes of duty-free liquids being seized at EU airports. European Travel Retail Council president Frank O’Connell said: “In the next three months, many passengers will take to the skies for their summer holidays. Unfortunately, many of these holidaymakers, whether travelling to Europe or returning home through EU airports, will have their duty-free liquids confiscated.
 
“We need to move quickly and we hope that the Transport Council will give clear direction to the European Commission as to how we need to move forward to solve the transfer passenger problem. It is clear that a global solution will not come soon. The EU must act now and unambiguous support from the Council for this action is needed.”

Keep an eye on RavenFox.com for reports on the outcome of tomorrow’s meeting.