(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission dropped plans on Monday to limit the size of carry-on bags allowed on airplanes after finding the measure would be too much of a burden for passengers.

As a result, the size of carry on bags allowed on planes will continue to be set by airlines and EU countries will have the right to impose stricter limits if they see fit.

"We must seek to balance security with passenger convenience," said EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot. "In this case it is clear that the inconvenience of additional limits would outweigh the advance in security."

In the wake of an alleged August 2006 plot against civil airplanes in Britain, security experts recommended that the European Commission limit the maximum size of carry-on bags to 56 by 45 by 25 centimeters.

The measure was originally supposed to take effect in May 2007, but the European Union's executive arm put it off a year while it conducted studies to see if it was really worthwhile, which it was not deemed to be.

The studies found that baggage size had little impact on the performance of airport security staff.

Text and Picture Copyright 2008 AFP. All other Copyright 2008 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.