Invited to answer live on Wednesday 22 April to questions from internet users, Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean, put the ball back in the court of the Member States on the issue of air passenger rights.
The Commissioner reiterated that she is aware that this is a "huge problem" for passengers and businesses alike, who are facing significant economic difficulties.
"We have therefore put in place different programmes to help airlines solve their liquidity problems: it is the responsibility of Member States to help them solve these problems", she stressed.
However, the Commissioner remained firm on the issue of vouchers (see EUROPE 12459/7), pointing out that they could, of course, be used as a substitute for refunds, but only with the agreement of passengers. A spokesman for the institution had recalled, on Monday 20 April, the request made to States not to adopt national provisions that run counter to such a principle.
In her speech, Ms Vălean nevertheless encouraged the provision of government-insured bonds to clients against corporate bankruptcy, as is currently the case in Denmark.
New requests for flexibility. Despite the Commissioner's repeated refusals, national calls for a relaxation of European rules are not weakening (see EUROPE 12466/11).
The Maltese Government, in a letter dated 21 April consulted by EUROPE, proposed that airlines should be able to issue vouchers of a higher value than that of a refund.
The three signatories - Ian Borg, Minister for Transport, Julia farrugia, Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection, and Silvio Schembri, Minister for the Economy - stressed the dependence of their island state on the aviation sector.
The Belgian ministers François Bellot, in charge of Mobility, and Nathalie Muylle, in charge of Employment, Economy and Consumers, told the Commissioner on Thursday 16 April that their country wished to join the German, French and Dutch proposals. According to these proposals, companies should be able to offer a refund in the form of a voucher, valid, for example, for a period of 12 months, after which a cash refund would be made if the voucher has not been used.
European Guarantee Fund. On Wednesday 22 April, Air France-KLM also requested the right for carriers to use vouchers. Continuing to strictly apply EU rules on passenger compensation would, in her view, be fatal for the industry.
Socialist MEPs on the European Parliament Transport Committee finally wrote on Tuesday 21 April to Commissioner Vălean and Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton.
They encourage the Commission to set up a coordinated system to "provide security for passengers and liquidity for airlines and tour operators". This system could take the form, they suggest, of a European Travel Guarantee Fund, based on the Danish model. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)