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European Officials Rebel Over American Security

European Officials Rebel Over American Security
Europe's Flag Logo - EU's United Front Against American Security ProceduresEuropean air officials havejoined together in open rebellion against American airport security requirementsthat they have called redundant and overly intrusive. On Wednesday, several European officials gave their support to British Airwayschairman Martin Broughton, who caused controversy when he criticized the Britishgovernment’s willingness “kowtow to the Americans” in regards to aviationsecurity procedures.Broughton voiced his grievances while speaking at the annual conference of theU.K. Airport Operators Association on Tuesday. Among Broughton’s pet peeves wasthe American requirement that passengers remove footwear and separate laptopsfrom luggage when going through security.The criticism hit a nerve with the European aviation community, and in less than24 hours executives and officials from other European carriers and airportsechoed Broughton’s critique.Powerful allies included Mike Carrivick, the chief executive of the Board ofAirline Representatives, an industry association that represents more than 90airlines operating in the UK. This morning, Carrivick joined Broughton’s call,saying that European aviation should reevaluate the state of airline securityand look for technological solutions.Sarcastic Logo for America's TSA & the Focus of European ObjectionsTensions between Washingtonand the European aviation have been rising for years as passengers, airlines andairports were subjected to a series of constantly shifting securityrequirements, which led to longer waits at security screening points.Many airlines, like Virgin Atlantic, expressed their frustrations with currentprocedures, saying they have repeatedly asked for faster and less intrusive waysto scan passengers.But the underlying cause behind the tension could be the proposed U.S.Electronic System for Travel Authorization, a program that would requirepassengers bound for the United States to clear an online security check beforedeparture. The program would affect passengers from the 35 European nations thatcurrently are under the Visa Waiver Program, which allows them to travel to theUnited States for 90 days without a visa.Hugely unpopular, the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization hasalready been meet with formal objections from the European Union and theEuropean Commission.Both organizations have called the system intrusive and a violation ofpassenger’s privacy. They say the new system would make trans-Atlantic travelmore difficult, hurting trade and tourism between the US and Europe.An estimated 13 million Europeans traveled to the United States in 2009, makingthem the third largest group to travel to the United States behind Canadians andMexicans.By Adriana Padilla for PeterGreenberg.com.Related Links:The New York Times,USA TodayRelated Links on PeterGreenberg.com: