May wanted the extra airport security checks
BRITAIN pushed for the extra security checks in European airports which are being blamed for huge queues.
Tourists are having to queue for up to four hours at passport control in some European airports after the introduction of tougher security checks earlier this year.
The detailed checks, which were introduced in May, apply to British citizens because the UK is not a member of the open-borders Schengen zone.
Airports in France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Holland have been accused of failing to deploy enough staff to carry out the checks.
Airlines are now warning passengers to arrive at airports three hours before their flights depart ahead of one of the busiest weekends of the summer. Some airports, such as Majorca, are predicted to experience double their usual demand.
It emerged yesterday that last year other EU nations tried to water down the security measures to enable “targeted” checks as part of a bid to avoid “disproportionate delay”.
However Mrs May, the then Home Secretary, argued that there should be “systematic” checks. She told the Commons: “While the UK does not participate in the border control elements of Schengen, we have a strong interest in improving the security of the EU’S external border, and I will stress the need for the measure to cover systematic checks at airports.”
Passengers have been warned that they are unlikely to get compensation if they miss their flight as a result. Which?, the consumer watchdog, said that the airports will be able to claim that security delays are outside their control. Lord Callanan, the aviation minister, said: “I hope it’s teething problems. We are certainly in contact with other governments across Europe to do all we can to mitigate them and to make it easier for people who are trying to enjoy their hard-earned break abroad.”
Mina Andreeva, a European Commission spokesman, said there was a “price to be paid” for security, but that EU countries should have put arrangements in place to avoid lengthy queues.