13 Transport security
| (34032)
11037/12
SWD(12) 143
| Commission Staff Working Document on transport security
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| Legal base | —
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| Department | Transport
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| Basis of consideration | Transport Committee's Opinion of 11 March 2013
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| Previous Committee Report | HC 86-viii (2012-13), chapter 6 (11 July 2012)
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| Discussion in Council | None planned
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
13.1 There are EU legislative requirements in the aviation
and maritime security sectors, where risks routinely cross borders.
13.2 The Commission's March 2011 White Paper,
"Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area — towards
a competitive and resource efficient transport system", announced
its intention to establish a permanent advisory group on land
transport security.[38]
A Commission Decision of 31 May (2012/286/EU) established this
as the Advisory Group on Land Transport Security. This forum of
government and industry policy makers and experts on land transport
and security will meet at least twice a year.
13.3 In May 2012 the Commission published this
Staff Working Document to consider what the focus of EU activity
on transport security should be. The Commission did not bring
forward any legislative proposals, but it did suggest areas for
consideration, some of which could lead to recommendations for
legislation at a later stage. The document was largely concerned
with the land transport sector, which, with the exception of the
movement of dangerous goods, is the least regulated mode of transport
at the EU level and where the Commission feels that there is a
need to do more to improve security.
13.4 Land transport security as considered by
the Commission, covers, due to its broad and complex nature, not
only public transport, but also supply chain movements across
several modes including inland waterways. The Commission set out
a number of matters on which work might be taken forward across
the transport modes.
13.5 When, in July 2012, we considered this document
we noted the Government's reservations about the need for the
sorts of EU activity on land transport security the Commission
proposed and noted particularly its concerns, which we shared,
about possible subsidiarity issues. However, before considering
the matter further, we asked the Transport Committee, using our
powers under Standing Order No. 143(11), for an Opinion on the
document. We asked this as the possibility of legislation, which
might be unnecessarily onerous for the land transport sector,
was at a formative stage and we suggested that, in preparing this
Opinion, the views of both the Government and industry as to what
might be acceptable at EU level be sought. Meanwhile the document
remained under scrutiny.[39]
The Transport Committee's Opinion
13.6 Having taken written and oral evidence from
a range of witnesses the Transport Committee has now published
its Report Land transport security — scope for further
EU involvement, which is the Opinion we requested.[40]
The Report sets out the existing arrangements for land transport
security in the UK and then examines the reactions it received
to the Commission's document and comes to some important conclusions,
particularly for the Government.[41]
13.7 In a paragraph addressed directly to us
the Transport Committee says:
"Overall, the tone of both industry's and the
Government's response to the Commission's proposals can be summarised
as a distinct lack of enthusiasm for further EU involvement in
relation to land transport security. The majority of organisations
that responded to our call for evidence called for better sharing
of information and good practice across the EU, rather than use
of the "blunt tool" of EU legislation. The issues raised
in the Commission's document are significant and deserve proper
consideration in the House of Commons if, and when, more detailed
proposals come forward. We do not consider that a debate in a
European Committee would be appropriate at this stage because
of the lack of detail in the proposals as they stand. However,
given the industry's strong disinclination towards EU legislation
in this area, we recommend that the European Scrutiny Committee
keep abreast of, and alert the House to, any further proposals
as they arise from the Commission, with a view to recommending
them for debate.[42]
Conclusion
13.8 We are grateful to the Transport Committee
for its response to our request for an Opinion on the Commission's
Staff Working Document. In the light of the Opinion we now clear
the document from scrutiny, but will, of course, be ready to consider
recommending any legislative proposals on land transport security,
that may emerge from the Commission, for debate.
38 (32639) 8333/11: see HC 428-xxvi (2010-12), chapter
3 (11 May 2011) and Gen Co Debs, European Committee A,
4 July 2011, cols. 3-28. Back
39
See headnote. Back
40
Eleventh Report from the Transport Committee, 2012-13, Land
transport security - scope for further EU involvement, HC
875. Back
41
Ibid, paras 35-36. Back
42
Ibid, para 34. Back
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