Regions and transport

The EU adopted over the past decade several regulations to protect the rights of passengers travelling by plane, train, ship or bus. Today it wants to clarify and better enforce air passenger rights and ensure consistent application of different passenger rights regulations in the future.

Centuries after Blackbeard and his ilk passed into legend, piracy has once again become a major problem with a global impact. Operating off the Somali coast, modern day pirates have become a threat to regional stability, world trade and all forms of maritime transport. As long as the political situation in Somalia remains unstable, it is unlikely that the situation will improve. The EP adopted a resolution on how to tackle the challenge during the Brussels plenary on 10 May.

Half of all flights could face delays by 2030 if nothing is done to ease congestion at Europe's busiest airports, according to the European Commission. The airports package launched by the Commission aims to tackle this problem as well as improve services to passengers and aircraft as investment in airport often takes decades from planning to completion. The Parliament's transport committee found out from representatives of the aviation sector on 8 May what they thought of the ambitious plans.

Last night 28 people, including 22 children, died in a tragic road accident in Switzerland. The European Parliament observed a minute's silence for the victims on Wednesday afternoon. "I extend our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and to all those affected by this disaster," said EP President Martin Schulz.

On 13 January, the Italian cruise ship, Costa Concordia, ran aground after hitting a reef off Isola del Giglio, Italy, with more than 4,000 passengers and crew on board. With 16 confirmed deaths and more than 20 people still missing, the human tragedy may be followed by an environmental one, as over 2000 tonnes of fuel must be pumped out of the Concordia to avoid a huge oil spill. Members of Parliament's Transport committee debated the issue with Commissioner Siim Kallas on Tuesday.

New rules aimed at improving the safety and environmental performance of two-wheeled vehicles, from mopeds to motorbikes, made it through the Internal Market Committee 5 December. The vote, which included over 300 amendments, was closely followed by riders and manufacturers. Dutch Christian Democrat Wim van de Camp, who is steering the proposals through parliament and who is a biker himself told us more.

As part of its effort to cut damaging greenhouse gases, the EU will include aviation in its Emissions Trading System (ETS) from 2012, affecting all flights into or out of the EU, and it wants other countries to agree on measures to curb air and maritime emissions. As delegates head to the Durban Climate Summit, German Christian Democrat Peter Liese who guided the legislation through the EP explained more.

Funds for cohesion and regional development are the EU's largest area of spending. On 6 October, MPs met MEPs in a joint session of the Regional Development Committee to discuss the proposed legal framework for cohesion policy post-2013. They welcomed the focus on growth but voiced concerns about rules that would allow the Commission to cut funds if it deemed national budgets unsustainable.

No matter where you spend your summer holiday - the beach, mountains or city - if you are holidaying in Europe, remember the 112 European emergency number. We hope you won't need it, but in case of emergency, don't panic, just dial 112.

MEPs on the Transport Committee agreed Tuesday that the use of body scanners in EU airports would enhance security but said it should be voluntary. They approved a report by Spanish Christian Democrat Luis de Grandes Pascual that backs the use of body scanners so long as they don't interfere with passenger privacy or pose health risks. The report should be voted in the plenary on 23 June.