The European Commission introduced the idea of placing armed air marshals on flights in a September 2005 draft regulation aimed at harmonising civil aviation security rules as well as introducing brand new measures on in-flight security.
The European Parliament, on 15 June 2006, adopted a first reading report on the Commission proposal, in which it cautions the use of in-flight security officers. It requests that they should only carry weapons on board if “authorisation has been given by the State granting the operating licence to the air carrier concerned and prior approval has been given by the States of departure and arrival”. States which are flown over or in which intermediate stops are made will also have to give their approval. In any event, no country will be obliged to accept sky marshals, the report insists.
The costs of security measures will be covered by airline users and member states. The Parliament has requested the Commission to advance a proposal on a uniform financing system to avoid market distortions.
