Consumer advocates raise the alarm: EU reform threatens passenger rights!

Consumer advocates raise the alarm: EU reform threatens passenger rights!

Consumer protection officers warn of possible disadvantages for air travelers due to a planned EU reform of the compensation regulations for flight delays and failures. André Duderstaedt, speaker for passenger rights at the Federal Consumer Center (VZBV), expresses his concerns that numerous passengers could ultimately end empty. The EU Commission's proposals from 2013 provide an increase in the threshold for compensation from currently three hours to five hours; With long -haul flights, this could even rise to twelve hours. However, the reform has not yet been decided. In one session, the 27 EU countries could not agree on changes, so the negotiations have to go on.

The Polish presidency in the Council of the EU countries has signaled that it will work towards an agreement and hopes to make progress next week at a meeting of the EU Transport Minister in Luxembourg. While Poland is pushing on this reform, Germany has already brought a counter -draft. This suggests leaving the threshold for compensation at three hours, but introducing a flat -rate compensation of 300 euros. Duderstaedt welcomes this proposal, but emphasizes that the VZBV would like to continue to stand up for higher compensation. If there is an agreement among the 27 Member States, negotiations with the European Parliament, which are expected to continue in autumn 2025, would also be necessary

rights of passengers in detail

The current passenger rights regulation (VO (EG) No. 261/2004) regulates the rights of airline customers comprehensively. This regulation applies to all flights from an EU airport, regardless of the seat of the airline. When flying from third countries to EU airports, it can only be used for EU airlines. Passengers are entitled to equal payments in the case of arrival delays of at least three hours. Depending on the flight route, these range between 125 and 600 euros, whereby the following criteria must be observed:

Future of passenger rights

The reform of passenger rights has repeatedly caused controversy in recent years. The first steps towards the new regulation have been on ice for ten years and are now to be promoted. Poland is aiming to reach an agreement in the first half of 2025 by the end of his EU Council Presidency. The throw of reform is based on a point of view of the European Parliament to change the regulation of 2014, whereby many of the original provisions no longer meet the reality of 2025.

In the discussion, new distance boundaries for compensation are considered, which could result in lower compensation payments. Technical defects and strikes could be considered "extraordinary circumstances", which would further reduce the number of flights subject to compensation. However, the Council of Ministers faces uncertain votes because there is no consensus. Some countries such as Austria, Sweden and Slovakia reject central elements of the reform, while others, including Italy and Denmark, support the Polish suggestions.

The situation remains tense and the consumer representatives call for a clear improvement in enforcing claims and consumer protection. A poor discussion and inadequate protection could otherwise lead to alienation between EU institutions and citizens. Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger reports on the current developments, while Consumer center href = "https://www.lto.de/recht/Hintergruende/h/eu-flugtgastechte-vergaver-flug-flug-ausfall-stellen-reform"> lto examined the legal context in more detail.