Passenger rights legislation requires sound impact assessment

The European road transport and travel industry calls upon EU Transport Ministers to limit the scope of the future regulation on passenger rights in bus and coach transport and to demand a sound impact assessment from the European Commission.

Brussels – Prior to the EU Transport Council meeting to be held on 11 June, the four trade associations representing the European collective passenger transport and travel business, ECTAA, ETOA, UITP and the IRU*, call upon EU Transport Ministers to exempt urban, suburban and regional national transport services from the scope of the future Regulation on the rights of passengers in bus and coach transport in the EU. Indeed, this proposed modal approach is counterproductive in the context of integrated multimodal local and regional public transport networks that ensure the sustainable mobility of EU citizens.

The EU road transport and travel industry stands united in urging EU Transport Ministers to request the European Commission to carry out a genuine impact assessment of the overall cost and operational implications resulting from the implementation of the proposed rules, in order to guarantee an informed debate before any decision is made.

The industry reiterates its request for appropriate solutions, striking a fair balance between the interests of passengers and those of operators. In particular, the industry is strongly concerned about:

the insuperably? strict liability of operators up to EUR 220 000 per passenger in case of accident
the impractical advance payment mechanism
the extremely high amounts of liability for damage or loss to passenger luggage
the lack of clarity regarding the respective obligations of operators and terminal managers for assisting persons with reduced mobility
the liability of operators in case of overbooking or delay at arrival.

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See Common ECTAA / ETOA / IRU Standpoint on passenger rights:
See UITP Position on passenger rights
See IRU Position on passenger rights

* The European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA) is the voice of European travel agents and tour operators. It counts travel agents' and tour operators' associations of 26 EU Member States, of two EU candidate countries, as well as Switzerland and Norway.

The European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) offers European level representation for the interests of inbound and intra-European tour operators, wholesalers and their European suppliers. Today, ETOA is the voice of European Inbound Travel, with over 400 Members.

The International Association of public Transport (UITP) is the international network for public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry. It is a platform for worldwide co-operation, business development and the sharing of know-how between its 3,100 members from 90 countries. UITP is the global advocate for public transport and sustainable mobility, and the promoter of innovations in the sector.

The International Road Transport Union (IRU), through its 180 national associations in 74 countries, represents the entire road transport industry worldwide. It speaks for the operators of coaches, taxis and trucks, from large transport fleets to driver-owners, advocating the facilitation and sustainable development of road transport.

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