Passenger rights and the EU Single Market

19.3.2015

Question for written answer E-004479-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Pavel Telička (ALDE)

On 11 March 2015 the Commission published a report in which it expressed its concern about the broad range of national exemptions granted under Article 2 of Regulation (EC) 1371/2007 on rail passengers' rights and obligations: five years after the entry into force of this legal text, only four Member States are currently applying it in full, whilst 22 Member States have granted exemptions.

This situation impedes a high level of protection for passengers in the EU, risks triggering high costs and endangers the creation of a real level playing field for railway undertakings. It thus contributes to a fragmentation of the Single Market and works against the achievement of a Single European Railway Area.

How will the Commission ensure that regulation (EC) 1371/2007 ensures the respect of passenger rights and does not become an empty shell?

In view of the Commission’s planned work on multimodal ticketing, how does the Commission intend to guarantee the application and respect of passenger rights under such integrated ticketing schemes?

What measures does the Commission intend to take in order to counter current developments and to ensure that the Single Market and a Single European Transport Area will become a reality in the EU?