Brussels, 24/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - Members of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) have questioned the idea promoted by four other political groups of the European Parliament to immediately introduce compensation for passengers of airlines that have become bankrupt. In a press release published on Tuesday 24 November, the ECR - whose members will be submitting their own draft resolution to plenary - considers that setting up a guarantee fund will only add extra charges on what airline passengers already have to pay. They do not reject such an idea but prefer the Commission to first of all resort to existing means, for example those which require national aviation authorities to analyse the financial situation of airlines, withdrawing or suspending the licenses of operators threatened with bankruptcy. “Given the rarity of airline bankruptcies, even in the midst of a recession, this approach is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut”, said Jacqueline Foster of Britain, speaking on behalf of the ECR. She went on to add that any discussion on a guarantee fund should at least be preceded by a sound impact assessment. MEPs are expected, on Wednesday 25 November, to approve a draft resolution presented on behalf of the EPP, S&D, ALDE and Greens/EFA in which they urge the European Commission to consider submitting a legislative proposal by 1 July 2010 aimed at establishing compensation payments to passengers. They also call on the Commission to establish a principle of mutual responsibility for passengers of all airlines going to the same destination as the failed airline and to review - during revision of the directive on travel, vacation and operator tours - the rules governing the repatriation and transferral to other flights of passengers concerned. According to the draft resolution, 77 bankruptcies of airlines occurred in the airline sector over the last nine years. (A.By./transl.jl)