Commission adopts new measures to protect ports from terrorist attacks 

The Commission adopted a proposal on port security to protect ports from terrorists on 10 February 2004. The Commission argues that terrorist attacks on ports can result in great harm for people and easily trigger severe knock-on effects for the economy.

The new proposal provides for each port to have a port security officer and for the definition of port security plans. Regular assessments of port security will help in determining precisely the measures to be taken to ensure optimum security.

The draft directive complements another proposal on the security of ships and port installations adopted in May 2003, which only addresses security at the part of a port constituting the port/ship interface. Both draft directives are based on measures decided at the international level in the framework of the International Maritime Organisation in December 2002.