Despite Italy having been cleared of the case against it for infringement of the EU Directive on package travel (2015/2302 – see EUROPE 12594/10), the European Commission is not yet finished with the country on this issue.
A letter was sent last week to the Italian authorities by EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders and another will be sent by the Commissioner for Transport, Adina Vălean, said a spokesperson for the institution to EUROPE on Wednesday 4 November. This is because “there are still remaining issues”.
On 31 July this year, Italy brought its national legislation on package travel – amended last spring to provide relief to companies in the sector affected by the Covid-19 pandemic – back into line.
From now on, for any cancellation of such a trip, the consumer can choose to be reimbursed in cash within fourteen days or receive a voucher.
However, the Commission has explained that it still expects the Italian Government to take any steps necessary to ensure that travellers who had services cancelled and who received vouchers before 31 July, can apply for and promptly receive a full refund.
Finally, the institution emphasised that this request applies to travel reservations, as well as to flight reservations, since Italy has also been accused by the Commission of infringing rules protecting the rights of air passengers (see EUROPE 12519/22). (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)