EU experts debate use of body scanners

European Union specialists meet in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the use of body scanners after the attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound plane on Christmas Day.

Although not a member of the EU, Switzerland will also have its word to say and is expected to follow any regulations introduced by the 27-nation bloc.

The use of body scanners has so far been up to EU member states and is allowed, for example, at such airports as Amsterdam’s Schiphol, from where the plane left.

However, the use of such body scanners is controversial and EU legislators demanded more research on the health and privacy impact before approving rules that would be applicable throughout the EU.

The EU Commission is convinced additional measures are needed to improve flight security and the experts from the member states will assess whether body scanners can fit into legislation.

A spokeswoman for Switzerland’s Civil Aviation Office told the 20 Minuten freesheet that Bern would follow any stricter security regulations introduced by Brussels.

swissinfo.ch and agencies