RENEE MONTAGNE, Host: NPR's business news starts with efforts to reopen the skies in Europe.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, Host: As Teri Schultz reports from Brussels, some European airlines are accusing safety officials of overreacting to the volcanic ash.</s>TERI SCHULTZ: Robert O'Meara of Airports Council International, Europe agrees with air safety authorities: The situation is unprecedented - but not the eruption, their reactions.</s>ROBERT O: There have been volcanic eruptions in other parts of the world. It hasn't resulted in 80 percent of the continent being shut down airspace-wise.</s>TERI SCHULTZ: European Union Transport ministers hold an emergency meeting later today - via video conference, since they're mostly grounded - to determine how to proceed. But Transport commissioner Siim Kallas rejects criticism they've been too careful.</s>SIIM KALLAS: Safety is a main priority for our aviation policies. How this situation must be assessed and could be accessed, this is a question of our experts and not political interference.</s>TERI SCHULTZ: For NPR News, I'm Teri Schultz, in Brussels.
European airlines and airports have stepped up their criticism of the decision to close most of the airspace in Europe. They say officials are being too cautious, and have ignored results of test flights which apparently showed little impact from volcanic dust. Officials who coordinate Europe's air traffic say they would rather be safe than sorry.