The European Commission decided that temporary compensation for the additional security costs incurred by…
The European Commission decided that temporary compensation for the additional security costs incurred by Community airlines after 11 September 2001 does not constitute State aid.
The Commission`s decision is fully in line with its 10 October 2001 communication on the repercussions of the terrorist attacks in the USA on the air transport industry(1) in which it took the view that strengthening aviation security measures following 11 September 2001 should be the responsibility of the public authorities. It restated this point of view on 12 June 2002 in its opinion(2) on the European Parliament`s amendments to the proposal for a Regulation on common rules in the field of civil aviation security which has since been adopted(3).
The Commission took the view that the obligation for airlines to intensify security checks in France comes under the heading of the exercise of public-authority powers. Consequently, the compensation, which is starkly limited in time and directly related to the extraordinary measures taken following 11 September 2001, does not constitute aid.
The compensation will be available to all Community companies. The Commission therefore considers that partial financing of the new security costs by the public authorities is in accordance with the objectives it wishes to promote.
(1)COM(2001) 574 available on the following website: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/cnc/2001/com2001_0574en01.pdf http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/cnc/2001/com2001_0574en01.pdf
(2)COM(2002) 327 final.
(3)European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) 2320/2002 of 16 December 2002 on establishing common rules in the field of civil aviation security (OJ L 355, p. 22 of 30 December 2002).
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