Una Riley talks to an MEP batting for the alarm and security industry. From the November 2002 print edition of Professional Security magazine
As a UK delegate representing the BSIA I am aware of the hard work that takes place on behalf of our industry in Europe. The needs of our country do not always match those of other member states. Therefore, we have to come together on issues of mutual importance such as multiple certification to ISO 9000/2000 from a single audit along with the availability of a consistent set of European standards and agreed technical specifications as well as multiple test and certification of products to a set scope. At Euralarm over the years we have sent delegations to the EC to highlight our needs. However, either we get a sympathetic Commissioner that understands and then is no longer responsible for that portfolio, or we simply get the cold shoulder. At Euralarm there are a lot of changes and it is now time to ensure that we progress in a timely manner to achieve our objectives. That is why we have approached a European Member of Parliament to champion our needs. The person we have chosen happens to understand the wider world of security because he has spent a great deal of his life dealing with security matters of one type or another. Geoffrey Van Orden is Vice Chairman of The Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament and Conservative Spokesman on Defence and Security Policy and Human Rights. He was first elected as a member of the European Parliament for the Eastern Region of England in 1999. Geoffrey Van Orden has had a distinguished military career: ‘I was commissioned as an army officer in 1964 and had a career in the Army until 1994. I have 30 years as a soldier and saw operational service in various parts of the world, starting in Borneo where we were fighting a war against the Indonesians. I found myself as a 19-year-old in the jungles of Borneo living with head-hunters, which for a 19-year-old was very exciting as you can imagine. You grow up very quickly under those types of circumstances. After that I served in many parts of the world. I spent quite a long time in Germany. I suppose the best and most exciting periods of my time in Germany were in Berlin where I had two postings, the last of which was as Chief of Staff and the Senior Military Intelligence Staff officer in the British Service in Berlin. I was there in that capacity at the fall of the Wall and was involved in all the build up to those spectacular events.’ Geoffrey’s last appointment in the army was at NATO headquarters, where he was the Executive Secretary of the Military Committee of NATO. This was when NATO was just opening up eastern Europe, when co-operation arrangements were being negotiated and when new threats were on the horizon. This was at the time when operations began in Bosnia. ‘Even then people were talking about terrorism and the dangers of weapons of mass destruction in the wrong hands,’ remarked Geoffrey. How had he embarked upon politics’ ‘I was interested in politics but I thought that I would do the soldering first for a few years then leave the Army, go into something else then enter politics. But the Army kept promoting me and sending me off to exciting places, and so 30 years on, I thought gosh, unless I leave now I’m never going to do this other thing! So I took the bull by the horns and resigned my commission. I threw my hat into the political ring and was eventually selected as a Conservative Party candidate for the European Parliament.’ I have to say that I for one am glad the Geoffrey decided to take the plunge. His profile is well suited to our needs. Tony Lamb, President of Euralarm, said.: ‘I am delighted that Geoffrey Van Orden MEP has adopted the European Fire and Security Industry and will be working with us to achieve our goals.’
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Back to Geoffrey: ‘With my past experience as an Intelligence Corps Officer for over 30 years, along with my protective security and counter terrorist intelligence I am no stranger to the wider world of security.’ I asked if Geoffrey had any experience in the commercial world of security. ‘Over the years I have had a lot of contact with the security industry. In fact I can go right back to the start of my training as a young officer when I spent time with Chubb.’ He laughed. ‘That was right at the beginning you see. Of course I have a lot of colleagues who are now part of the commercial security industry.’ I asked how he felt about getting involved with the fire and security industry at European level. ‘I am very exited at the prospect and of course I will do all that I can to advise and assist. I am sure that there are a lot of elements that are relevant at the European level. There are regulations and legislation that are going through the European Parliament that will be pertinent to the industry. The other thing of course is that we are concerned with high common standards and a level playing field ensuring that we are all working to the same rules and meeting the same high standard.’ I spoke to Geoffrey about the shared practice that Euralarm advocate then went on to discuss the eastern European entrants that are now starting to emerge within Euralarm. ‘In my capacity as Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Security Policy and Defence Committee of the Parliament I take a particular interest in the question of enlargement and the candidate countries.’ We discussed past issues and concern. Tony Lamb again: ‘Euralarm is becoming more active in the political arena in order to achieve one of its primary goals, namely ‘one stop shop testing’, certification and auditing of products. This is a key objective for implementing the ‘single market’ for fire and security products throughout Europe. It is absolutely vital for the market to grow and develop so that European manufacturers can exploit the world markets effectively.’ Geoffrey, fully supportive, went on to say that he would endeavour to help in any way he could. I asked about the future development of the European Union: ‘Parliament is increasing as European legislation for better or worse is affecting people’s lives. Clearly the fire and security industry is affected by all of this. I think that this is an area of expansion what with the prospective ten countries that are going to join and there is a queue behind them that are lining up to join. This will open up markets. We want to assist the business community and see fewer regulations that are more fit for business.’ That is exactly what we want and with Geoffrey Van Orden championing our case I am confident that we will reach our objective.
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About Euralarm
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Euralarm, the Association of European Manufacturers and Installers of Fire and Security Systems, was founded in 1970 and has members and associations of 14 European companies representing around 700 companies having an approximate turnover of 3.5 billion euros. This represents about 70 per cent of the total European security market. Euralarm’s aim is to influence the positive growth of the market and to represent on an international level the interests of the European manufacturers and installers of products and services. The BSIA is represented on Euralarm.
