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Euro MPs urge easing liquids ban EU spurns MEP plea on liquids ban
(about 2 hours later)
The European Parliament has backed a resolution which calls for the EU to review restrictions on taking liquids on board aeroplanes. The European Commission has rejected a call by the European Parliament to review restrictions on taking liquids on board aeroplanes.
It said the restrictions could not be relaxed if there was still a threat that liquid explosives would be used for terror attacks on planes.
Earlier the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the EC to review the regulation.
It said the security benefits may not justify the cost of the ban.
"The understanding and the readiness with which the vast majority of our citizens have accepted this measure and the inconvenience it brings are the best proof that they consider it to be adequate and necessary," EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot said.
He added "Europe must not show any sign of weakness" in the face of terrorist threats.
"It must not lower its guard but on the contrary reinforce its vigilance and maintain the full range of prevention instruments it has adopted," Mr Barrot said in a statement.
His comments come on the day Germany announced it had foiled a major terrorist plot against US targets in the country.
Advisory
The parliamentary resolution calls for the ban on passengers taking liquids on planes in containers of less than 100ml to be lifted.
It is purely advisory as members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have no power to impose any measures.It is purely advisory as members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have no power to impose any measures.
But the resolution says the security benefits may not justify the cost of the restriction. "The European Parliament is concerned that the cost [of] the regulation may not be proportionate to the added value in terms of additional security," the resolution said.
And it calls for the ban to be lifted unless further conclusive evidence can be brought forward to support it.
MEPs have voted for an urgent review of the EU regulation which says air travellers can only take liquids on planes in containers of less than 100ml.
The regulation was brought in after police in London said they had broken up a plot to bring down as many as 10 planes using liquid explosives.The regulation was brought in after police in London said they had broken up a plot to bring down as many as 10 planes using liquid explosives.
If there is no new evidence to show that the regulation makes air travel safer, MEPs want the ban repealed.
The resolution says they recognise the need for security, but measures need to be realistically designed to reduce risk.
And it says the extra cost and inconvenience of the liquids ban may not be outweighed by the security it provides.