Independent MEP Marian Harkin has today, Thursday, March 23rd warmly welcomed the publication by the European Commission of a black list of airline companies considered unsafe to carry passengers.

The list was compiled by the European Commission on the basis of information provided by air transport safety authorities in the member states.  A company black listed in one EU country will be barred from all EU 25 countries to avoid attempt to circumvent restrictions by changing to another airport across the border, she said.  A recent situation where an airline was grounded in Holland but was permitted to take off in Belgium underlined the need for the action taken by the European Commission, she said.

"All EU citizens will now have access to a black list which will indicate airlines which are prohibited and those which are restricted and considered unsafe to carry passengers", Marian Harkin said. "The decision announced today follows a lengthy period of consideration and it is a tribute to the European Parliament and the pressure it exerted that this new protection for air passengers has been introduced". Independent MEP Marian Harkin said.