Martin Ehrenhauser

Tomorrow, on Thursday the body scanners in the European Parliament are undergoing a public inspection in the parking deck P1D in the underground garage of the European Parliament. In 2005 the European Parliament bought 6 body scanners following the recommendation of an “external advisor” and paid 120.995 Euros for each scanner. Three of the scanners were intended for Brussels and three for Strassbourg. Now the “Rapiscan Secure 1000” are put on sale not having been used even once and are displayed to interested parties. Bids of not less than 65.000 euros per scanner can be submitted until March 1. The public ceremonial opening of the tenders takes place on March 12.

A scanning process with these scanners lasts less than 8 seconds. This is probably more time than it took to decide on the purchase of the scanners at a total price of 725.730 euros. When the body scanners were bought, the European Parliament had not decided yet whether or not it makes sense to invest in body scanners. Three years later in October 2008 the European Parliament adopted a resolution, according to which “the conditions for taking a decision have not been met yet.” Afterwards the regulation on the Europe-wide use of body scanners, that had been amended in March 2008, was cancelled.

The EU is still looking for a common legal basis. In a number of countries such as England or the Netherlands body scanners are in use. The transport commissioner Siim Kallas is going to put forward a report in April which will facilitate the decision-making at the meeting of the EU ministers in June. According to the European Data Protection Supervisor, body scanners cause “a humiliating experience”. To me they are just another proof of a disproportional fight against terrorism. The only correct way of using these scanners would be to put them in popular public places as a memorial to the fundamental human rights.