TRANSPORT POLICIES * Europe - Balanced and practicable passenger rights rules

For bus and coach transports

Athens,Greece -Travel Daily News -November 6, 2009: -- The European collective passenger transport and travel industry jointly calls upon EU institutions to adopt practicable and balanced passenger rights rules in EU bus and coach transport in the interest of both passengers and businesses alike... Prior to a series of pivotal Council and Parliamentary discussions on the future rules on passenger rights in bus and coach transport in the EU, the four trade associations representing the European collective passenger transport and travel business, ECTAA, ETOA, UITP and IRU, reiterate their call for balanced and practicable rules, adapted to the industry specificity and structure, 85% of which is composed by micro- and small and medium-sized companies... In particular, the industry partners emphasise the need to:

* apply the future regulation to long distance regular services only and exclude urban, suburban and regional services from its scope;
* review the definitions of carrier, travel agent and tour operator, to avoid legal uncertainty;
* remove the articles on liability in case of accident, since they create conflicts with other existing EU or national rules and regimes and therefore allow Member States to adapt their liability regimes according to their specific needs;
* avoid imposing obligations on drivers to assist passengers on board of the vehicle, which would jeopardize the safety of all road users and the respect of social legislation; and
* avoid making operators responsible for delays at arrival, since these will severely penalise road safety.

However, the European collective passenger transport and travel industry jointly welcomes the opportunity to develop industry charters and commitments to secure the respect of the rights of passengers in short distance urban and suburban transport...