Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano has met her European counterparts in Spain in a bid to bolster international aviation security measures and standards.

“The attempted terrorist attack on Dec. 25 threatened the lives of individuals from 17 foreign countries, including more than 100 citizens of European nations,” said Secretary Napolitano. “The international dimensions of this incident—and the international threat posed by radical extremism—require an international response to strengthen global aviation security measures.”

Napolitano stressed the need for collaborative international action to prevent terrorists from boarding commercial aircraft during meetings with ministers from more than 30 countries—the first in a series of global meetings intended to bring about broad consensus on enhancing international aviation security standards and procedures.

Secretary Napolitano also emphasized the Obama administration’s commitment to strengthening information sharing about terrorists and other dangerous people with international partners. In 2009, DHS, the Department of Justice, and the Department of State worked together to forge agreements to prevent and combat crime with Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal. These agreements allow for the exchange of biometric and biographic data to bolster counterterrorism and law enforcement efforts while ensuring privacy protections.

Next up for Secretary Napolitano is a meeting in Geneva to confer with members of the International Air Transport Association—which represents approximately 230 airlines and more than 90 percent of the world’s air traffic. She will also meet with officials from the International Civil Aviation Organization in Geneva.

By Security document world

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