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Revision of the package travel Directive

In “A New Push for European Democracy”

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The co-legislators have reached a deal

On 29 November 2023, the Commission adopted a proposal amending Directive (EU) 2015/2302 on package travel and linked travel arrangements. It simplified the definitions of package travel and linked travel arrangement and prevented retailers from requiring  a downpayment higher than 25% of the total price of the package, with certain exceptions. Travellers’ entitlement to cancel a travel package due to the geographical outbreak of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances was extended to apply to the place of the traveller's residence or departure, or to similar circumstances affecting the journey. Any termination fee should be justifiable, and refunds or reimbursements must be made to travellers even when they do not specifically ask for it.

Travellers could be given in writing the choice to accept a voucher, corresponding to at least the amount of the refund. They would only lose their right to a refund during the validity period of the voucher if they explicitly accepted the voucher instead of a refund. The voucher has a validity of 12 months from the moment of its acceptance by the traveller.

The scope of insolvency protection was amended to include refunds and vouchers  to which the traveller was entitled before the insolvency. Organisers not established in a Member State are obliged to provide security in accordance with the law of the Member State where the package is sold. The security should be sufficient to cover all costs associated to refunds, repatriations and vouchers. Member States are to supervise the insolvency protection arrangements of organisers. Any co-financing by Member States of such arrangements should be possible only in exceptional and justified circumstances, pursuant to EU State aid provisions.

A provisional deal was struck during the second trilogue, on 2 December 2025. Under the agreed text, on the basis of Parliament's position, package travel organisers are obliged to establish a complaint-handling mechanism. They have to acknowledge receipt of a complaint within a maximum of seven calendar days and respond to it within a maximum of 60 calendar days. Furthermore, the deal introduces specific information requirements in cases where there is no package. Thus, if a trader invites a traveller to purchase additional types of travel service for the same trip, the trader is obliged to inform the traveller that, if the traveller makes the purchase, the services will not constitute a package. However, if the invitation to purchase different services is made before the traveller agrees to pay for the first travel service, and the traveller agrees to purchase an additional type of travel service within 24 hours of agreeing to pay for the first travel service, but the trader did not provide the required information, the services will constitute a package. In this situation, the trader will be considered the organiser of that package and will become subject to the obligations contained in the Directive.

The political agreement was endorsed by Coreper on 19 December 2025. It was adopted as Parliament's first reading position on 12 March 2026 with 537 votes in favour, two against and 24 abstentions.

On 24 April 2024, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted an opinion supporting the proposal. It recommends that the legislation be as balanced as possible, ensuring that EU package travel remains competitive, affords protection to consumers, and has minimal impact on prices and burdens for businesses.

In the Council, Coreper adopted a mandate for interinstitutional negotiations on 18 December 2024. Its position downplayed the ambition of the Commission proposal. For example, it deleted the proposal to limit downpayments and restricted the scope for termination of package travel contracts due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances. On the other hand, it streamlined the Commission's proposals on vouchers and insolvency protection. The changes made by Council concerning vouchers were intended to ensure that clearer and more comprehensive information is provided to consumers, and to clarify the relationship between vouchers and refunds. Regarding insolvency, Council added provisions to ensure the provision of fuller information to consumers about the insolvency of organisers.

In Parliament, the file was referred to the IMCO Committee. Alex Agius Saliba (S&D, Malta) was appointed  rapporteur. On 26 June 2025, IMCO adopted its report with 35 votes in favour, one against and four abstentions. The report was adopted without further amendment  in plenary as Parliament's negotiating mandate on 11 September 2025, with 535 votes in favour, 36 against and 47 abstentions.

Parliament provided that Member States may impose limitations on downpayments in accordance with national law. It provided that travellers may terminate a package travel contract free of charge due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances where it can be 'reasonably expected' that the contract will be 'significantly and objectively' affected by such circumstances. Official travel warnings issued up to 28 days before the start of the package are of particular relevance to this assessment. The express consent of the traveller is required before the organiser can provide a voucher instead of a refund. The report backed the Commission’s proposal that vouchers are to be covered by the organiser's insolvency protection, but only up to the value of the refund. Parliament extended  the period within which payments are to be made to the traveller in the event of the organiser's insolvency from three months to six.

The report narrowed the changes proposed by the Commission regarding the definition of a package and removed the concept of linked travel arrangement. Finally, it introduced new provisions designed to enhance enforcement of the new rules, such as a complaint-handling mechanism to be established by organisers.

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Further reading:

Author: David Ashton, Members' Research Service, legislative-train@europarl.europa.eu

As of 20/03/2026.