THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION is proposing a programme to “create a true internal market for the security industry” which includes plans to introduce a harmonised certification system for airport screening equipment.

In a statement today, the commission says it is proposing a programme to boost Europe’s security industry in light of “recent natural disasters and terrorist attacks”.

The Commission also says that “emphasis should be given to a better exploitation of synergies between (civil) security and defence research” and that it intends to issue standardisation mandates for “hybrid standards” in cooperation with the European Defence Agency.

European Commission vice-president Antonio Tajani said the programme aims to contribute to growth and jobs by keeping Europe’s security industry in Europe:

The current fragmented market weakens the competitiveness of Europe’s security industry. This lack of an “EU brand” is especially critical as the future key markets for security technologies will not be in Europe but in emerging countries. Today we have agreed a blueprint for the creation of a true internal market for security technologies.

The plan proposes the harmonisation of standards and certification procedures for security technologies, and the Commission says intends to propose legislation to establish the EU-wide harmonisation of certification systems for airport screening equipment and for alarm systems.

In the past decade, the global security market has increased tenfold to €100 billion, with an annual turnover of around €30bn in the EU. The Commission says that the security market share of European companies could decrease in the coming decade “if no action is taken to enhance their competitiveness”.