Negotiators from the European Parliament and the EU Council returned to the negotiating table on the revision of air passenger rights, on the evening of Wednesday 15 October, 12 years after negotiations began and 21 years after the text was last updated. This resumption of negotiations follows the adoption of the draft approach for the second reading in the European Parliament the previous day (see EUROPE 13729/1).
Given that the Danish Presidency of the Council has decided to close the first reading, following the position reached by ministers in June (see EUROPE 13654/1), the negotiators have three months to reach an agreement, with a possible further extension of one month. According to a European source, the Parliament deplored this situation. In response, the Presidency urged the co-legislators to focus on how they could move this file forward together. Both institutions stressed their readiness to move the file forward in a constructive and open manner, and achieve a result as soon as possible.
As expressed at a press conference the previous day, the European Parliament stressed that going back in time on the right to compensation after a flight has been delayed for three hours was unacceptable. The Council, for its part, indicated that this threshold was intended to give airlines the opportunity to seek solutions in the event of problems. The Presidency pointed out that the data shows that with the current three-hour threshold, flight cancellations and delays have continued to increase. This threshold does not therefore prevent cancellations or ensure that passengers get to their destination as soon as possible. Denmark has therefore recalled its position in favour of a four-hour threshold for journeys of less than 3,500 km and all intra-EU flights, and a six-hour threshold for journeys of more than 3,500 km. In its view, these thresholds give air carriers minimum operational flexibility to maintain their flights and give passengers the possibility of getting to their destination.
The different positions on baggage were also discussed. The European Parliament insisted on its wish to include hand luggage with the plane ticket.
Work will continue at technical level before the next trilogue, scheduled for Wednesday 19 November. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)