Brussels, 03/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - As the summer holidays approach, the Commission published a series of interpretative guidelines, on Friday 3 July, to ensure better application of European law on the rights of rail passengers.
“The Commission has always put citizens at the heart of its transport policy (…)”, said Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc, highlighting that “the EU became the first area in the world where passengers have guaranteed rights across all forms of transport”.
The interpretative guidelines - that is, guidelines from the Commission clarifying EU legislation - are intended to guarantee better the rights of rail passengers in the European Union (Regulation No 1371/2007, which came into effect in December 2009).
Following on from a number of European Union Court of Justice rulings, the Commission: - calls for better passenger information to be made available on travel, prices and tickets available, including the facilities available to persons with disabilities; - makes clear that passengers holding separate tickets under a single contract have the same rights as passengers with a single ticket; - points out that rail companies cannot ask for medical certificates as a precondition for the right of persons with disabilities or reduced mobility to assistance; - requires rail companies and national authorities to set up adequate complaint-handling mechanisms so that replies can be given to complainants “within strict timeframes”.
“It is crucial to ensure there are no changes in the interpretation of the regulation leading to legal uncertainty that might prevent the sector from continuing on the right track”, warned the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), which represents 70 railway companies.
The Commission intends to open an impact assessment towards the end of 2016 to determine how best to ensure the rights of rail passengers within the EU. It is also working to lay the foundations for a legal framework by the end of 2017 to make sure that the rights of passengers using different forms of transport in a single journey are observed.
The Commission also announced the publication of a summary of Court of Justice rulings on air passenger rights - rights that are at present being keenly debated in the Council (see EUROPE 11334). (Pascal Hansens)