The European Union is resisting United States pressure to introduce body scanners at airports. The EU will only come to a decision on the issue after research has been done into the possible effects on people's health and privacy.

The European position became clear at a meeting of EU ministers in Toledo in Spain on Thursday. They did agree, however, to increase the frequency of ‘sky marshals’ travelling on board passenger planes. Information, including credit card details, will also be collated about passengers travelling within Europe and not just, as at present, about travellers to the US.

Europe is under pressure to improve its airport security after the failed attempt to blow up a plane from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day. The Nigerian would-be bomber transferred onto the US-bound flight at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.

The Netherlands has decided to introduce a trial of body scanners at Schiphol. The Dutch government hopes other EU countries will also start to use the scanners.

photo: airport body scanner (ANP)