Brussels, 07/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - “Put some consumer rights information in your case. Europe can provide free aid and advice.” That is the slogan of the Air Passengers' Rights Day, organised on Thursday 7 July by the European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) which is to be found in 23 European countries (21 EU member states, plus Norway and Iceland) and is co-financed by the European Commission. This was a way to raise awareness among passengers of the rights which are enshrined for them in law and of the help they can expect from ECC-Net to obtain their rights if something goes wrong. Cancelled flight, the holiday didn't go as planned, luggage lost - there is no shortage of upsets.
It is precisely for that reason that the ECC-Net exists: to give consumers free advice on their rights when they travel (it was there to help during the ash cloud in May 2010) and about purchases made in a European country other than their own. When things go wrong, the ECC-Net can also help resolve cross-border disputes with traders. “This work is a clear example of EU added value”, said Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli, looking forward to “more and more consumers managing to reap the benefits of the internal market thanks to the help of the ECC-Net”. His colleague at Transport, Siim Kallas noted that “EU rules protecting passengers exist in all modes of transport: they are already in force for air and rail and will be soon applicable also for waterborne and road passengers”. (A.N./transl.rt)