Today, the negotiators of the European Parliament and the Cypriot Presidency of the EU Council will not only have to deal with the Turnberry agreement. Another important trilogue is scheduled, concerning the revision of the rules on air passenger rights. A potential agreement risks falling through due to France’s intransigence, which insists on lowering the level of passenger protection regarding compensation owed by airlines in case of delays. “The Council has continued to take a political stance aimed at weakening rights. It is the French who are pushing to lower monetary compensations and raise the time thresholds,” a reliable source explained to us. Coincidentally, within the Council Secretariat, the dossier is managed by a French national seconded expert, who reportedly has significant influence over the Cypriot EU Presidency. Since this is a conciliation procedure with deadlines set by the treaties, it is risky for Cyprus to follow France’s uncompromising position. The reform of passenger rights could derail completely. According to the conciliation procedure, if no shared text is reached in the conciliation committee by June 15, the act will be considered not adopted.
THE PARLIAMENT IN A POSITION OF STRENGTH ON PASSENGER RIGHTS
For once, the European Parliament finds itself in a position of strength regarding the reform of passenger rights. In case of failure of the negotiations in the conciliation procedure, the current legislation would remain in force, including compensations (from 250 to 600 euros in case of cancellation, from 125 to 300 euros in case of delay). Under pressure from France, the Cypriot Presidency had asked other Member States to support a de facto reduction of protections in the trilogue: in case of rerouting on another flight, the minimum compensation would have dropped from 250 to 83 euros. Most other countries rejected this proposal. It would also have been unacceptable for the European Parliament, unless it wanted to be accused of betraying European consumers. The MEPs’ position foresees an overall strengthening of passenger rights. One of the demands is to oblige airlines to provide pre-filled forms to facilitate reimbursement claims. According to Commission estimates, since 2006 only 48 percent of those entitled to compensation have actually received it. Another dispute concerns the list of extraordinary circumstances that exempt airlines from the obligation to compensate passengers.
MEPS READY FOR A “NO-DEAL”
“The Parliament cannot step back from the current legislation that has protected citizens for more than 10 years,” said yesterday the Vice-Chair of the Transport Committee, Virginijus Sinkevičius, one of the European Parliament negotiators on air passenger rights. Sinkevičius accused the Member States’ ministers of “hiding behind their representatives here in Brussels” by refusing to negotiate seriously with Parliament. “If they want to reduce passenger rights, they must say it out loud.” “Parliament is not afraid of a ‘no deal’,” warned the Parliament rapporteur, Andrey Novakov: “We will not accept an agreement that worsens the rights currently in force in Europe.” According to Novakov, “the group of countries opposing Parliament’s position is led by France. There are others behind, but the main force is France.”
(Excerpt from the European Morning Brief)
