MPs set to approve post-MH17 airline safety rules

A majority in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, is set to approve plans to improve airline safety rules following the disaster with flight MH17 in July 2014. The plans include a covenant between the government and airlines, more money for the intelligence services to collect and share information and punishment for airlines who do not have their safety rules in order, AD reports. The proposal for the covenant between government and airlines comes from the PvdA. The party is not happy with the government's plan for an international reference website showing risk areas and consultations between the intelligence agencies and the airlines four times a year. "Consultations four times a year is not enough. We can not expect that the services monitor the whole wold, there is a lot of information." PvdA MP Michiel Servaes said to the newspaper. If thelines with the airlines are shorter, it can benefit safety." The D66 proposed that the intelligence services are given sufficient money to actually collect, analyse and share information properly. The VVD came with a motion to reward or punish companies on their security policy. "The KLM department that makes risk assessments, costs money. Money that other companies sometimes do not spend. Wile consumers want to fly as safely as possible", MP Han ten Broeke said. He believes that airlines are much better at looking at dangers with "aviation glasses" than the intelligence services AIVD and MIVD. The experience and knowledge, and therefore the ultimate responsibility, lies with the airlines, he feels. The Tweede Kamer will vote on these proposals on Thuesday. According to Dutch newspaper AD, all three can count on a parliamentary majority.