Revision of the package travel Directive - Adaptation to COVID-19 context
In “A New Push for European Democracy”
In its work programme for 2022, adopted on 19 October 2021, the European Commission announced that it wants to review the Directive 2015/2302/EU on package travel.
As it announced previously in the 2020 New consumer agenda and the 2021 report on the application of the package travel Directive, the Commission will evaluate whether the Directive ensures robust and comprehensive consumer protection at all times, including insolvency protection and learnings from COVID-19. The evaluation will take into account relevant actions of the sustainable and smart mobility strategy.
In light of this evaluation, the Commission is expected to propose a revision of the Directive at the end of 2022. The revision would also examine the possibility to simplify or streamline the rules and definitions regarding linked travel arrangements and their distinction from packages to make it easier for industry, consumers and enforcement authorities to establish which rules apply to a particular combination of services.
It will examine the possibility to simplify information requirements while maintaining the same level of consumer protection, clarify certain other rules (e.g. on voluntary vouchers) and further streamline the package travel Directive with the passenger rights Regulations.
A legislative proposal, including an impact assessment, is foreseen for Q4 2023.
References:
- European Commission work programme 2022, annexes
- European Commission, Have you say - package travel, review of EU rules, 2023
- Directive (EU) 2015/2302 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on package travel and linked travel arrangements, amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directive 90/314/EEC
- European Commission, Report from the Commission on the application of Directive (EU) 2015/2302 on package travel and linked travel arrangements, COM/2021/90
- European Commission, New consumer agenda 2020
- European Commission, Sustainable and smart mobility strategy, 8 December 2020, action plan
Author: Clément Evroux, Members' Research Service, legislative-train@europarl.europa.eu