Industry News

U.S. and EU in Cargo Security Agreement

Apr. 26, 2004


On April 22, 2004, Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge and Irish Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy signed an agreement between the US and European Union to extend the existing US/EU Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement to include matters relating to cargo security.  The objectives of the agreement are to improve security for both the U.S. and E.U. while ensuring equal treatment among the US and EU ports and port operators.  This agreement effectively permits the expansion of the U.S. Container Security Initiative throughout the European Union.

 

The EU press release and the US press release are both available online.  Commissioner Bonner spoke at the signing ceremony held in Washington.  According to Commissioner Bonner, this agreement ushers in "a new era of unprecedented cooperation on common security threats."