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IP/10/1603 Brussels, 25 November 2010 New rights for passengers travelling by water The European Parliament and the Council have given their signature to a regulation that will enable passengers travelling by sea and by inland waterways to enjoy the same rights wherever they travel in the European Union. Among these rights is the right to information or compensation in the case of delay or cancellation of a journey. In addition, the new rules also offer people with a disability or reduced mobility protection when travelling over water. The new regulation will complement existing rights for air and rail passengers. Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, said: "People are entitled to enjoy the same levels of quality and safety wherever they travel within the European Union. I am very glad that after introducing rights for air and rail passengers, we are now also able to introduce similar rights for passengers travelling by water." A consistent legal framework of passenger rights This regulation is a significant step forward towards reaching the aim of achieving a consistent legal framework in the interest of passengers travelling in all modes. EU legislation already protects passengers travelling by air and by rail. The new rules are also expected to increase the quality and competitiveness of the EU transport industry by creating a level playing field for operators in the maritime sector. The Rights The new rights include amongst others:
Next steps The regulation on new rights for people travelling by sea and by inland waterways should be published in the official journal on 9 December 2010, and would enter into effect at the end of 2012. The Commission has also proposed rights for passengers travelling by bus or coach, which will still have to be agreed by the Council and the European Parliament. A rapid adoption of this regulation on road transport becomes essential to complete the European legal framework on passenger rights for all modes of transport. The Commission is doing its utmost to aid the co-legislators to find an agreement on this file, and hopes that this would be possible in the coming weeks. To find out more about passenger rights in all modes of transport, see |
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