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.

Date of publication: 5 June 2009