EU Dispute over Passenger Rights

EU Dispute over Passenger Rights

The European Commission is “deeply concerned” by attempts to water down European Union legislation on maritime passenger rights. Changes introduced by national governments to the draft legislation lowered the level of protection for passengers and reduced “considerably” the number of ships to which the law would be applicable, the commission said.
 
Behind the protests are attempts by governments, in particular Mediterranean states, to exempt large numbers of small vessels from the draft regulation obliging ferry operators to provide passengers with accommodation in certain cases of denied boarding. Governments also want to exempt ferry companies from compensating passengers under “exceptional circumstances” if crossings are delayed. While the changes go too far for the commission, for the Greek government they do not go far enough. Athens, concerned the proposed law will hit small island operators, wants a wider set of exemptions introduced.

The draft text is now the subject of secret negotiations between the European Parliament, Council and commission. A final text is supposed to emerge before the summer recess.