Il-Kumitat tat-Trasport u t-Turiżmu tal-Parlament Ewropew approva l-pożizzjoni tiegħu dwar abbozz ta’ liġi importanti biex jissaħħu d-drittijiet tal-passiġġieri fl-Unjoni Ewropea. Din il-votazzjoni tfisser pass sinifikanti ’l quddiem wara aktar minn għaxar snin ta’ staġnar f’dan il-qasam.

Il-pożizzjoni tal-Parlament tinkludi numru ta’ bidliet konkreti li jirrispondu direttament għad-diffikultajiet li ħafna vjaġġaturi jaffaċċjaw kuljum:
• Kumpens awtomatiku: Linji tal-ajru jkunu obbligati jħallsu kumpens awtomatikament fi żmien 48 siegħa f’każ ta’ dewmien jew kanċellazzjoni, mingħajr ma jkun hemm bżonn li l-passiġġieri jissieltu għal dak li jmisshom.
• Tmiem tal-ħlasijiet żejda għall-familji: Tfajliet u subien ta’ taħt it-12-il sena jkunu intitolati joqogħdu ħdejn il-ġenituri tagħhom bla ħlas.
• Bagalji żgħar inklużi fil-prezz: Kull passiġġier ikun intitolat iġorr hand luggage sa massimu ta’ 7kg mingħajr ħlasijiet żejda.
• Drittijiet ugwali għat-titjiriet kollha lejn l-UE: Titjiriet li jidħlu fl-Unjoni Ewropea, anke jekk operati minn kumpaniji mhux Ewropej, se jkunu soġġetti għall-istess regoli bħall-linji tal-ajru Ewropej.

L-Ewroparlamentari Daniel Attard, li huwa membru tal-Kumitat tat-Trasport u t-Turiżmu, laqa’ b’sodisfazzjon dan il-vot importanti u ddeskrivieh bħala “rebħa li ilha mistennija għal konsumaturi madwar l-Ewropa”. Huwa esprima t-tama li l-Kunsill Ewropew issa jimxi ’l quddiem b’mod kostruttiv fin-negozjati li ġejjin sabiex jintlaħaq ftehim finali.

“Din hija opportunità biex intejbu l-esperjenza tal-ivvjaġġar għal miljuni ta’ ċittadini madwar l-Ewropa. Issa hemm bżonn ta’ impenn komuni biex naslu sat-tragward finali,” qal Attard.

Waqt li spjega l-effett konkret tal-proposti, huwa żied:

“Jekk tesperjenza dewmien sostanzjali fit-titjira, m’għandekx tistenna xhur jew timla formoli bla qies biex tieħu dak li hu tiegħek. Jekk tivvjaġġa mat-tfal, m’għandekx tħallas iżjed biex toqgħod ħdejhom. U jekk tibbukkja titjira, m’għandux ikun hemm tariffi żejda għall-hand luggage. Dawn huma tibdiliet prattiċi li jpoġġu l-passiġġier fiċ-ċentru, u se nibqgħu naħdmu biex dawn isiru realtà.”

Il-votazzjoni ta’ llum tfisser li din hija issa l-pożizzjoni uffiċjali tal-Parlament Ewropew, iżda l-liġi finali tiddependi fuq il-ftehim li jintlaħaq mal-Kunsill Ewropew. In-negozjati bejn l-istituzzjonijiet huma mistennija jibdew fil-ġimgħat li ġejjin.

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Transport and Tourism Committee Votes to Strengthen Passenger Rights

The European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee has approved its position on an important legislative proposal aimed at strengthening passenger rights across the European Union. This vote marks a significant step forward after more than ten years of legislative stagnation in this area.

The Parliament’s position introduces several concrete changes that respond directly to challenges faced by millions of travellers:
• Automatic compensation: Airlines would be required to compensate passengers automatically within 48 hours in cases of delays or cancellations, without the need for lengthy claims processes.
• Ending extra charges for families: Children under 12 would be entitled to sit next to their parents at no additional cost.
• Hand luggage included in the price: All passengers would have the right to bring cabin luggage up to 7kg at no extra charge.
• Equal rights for all flights into the EU: All incoming flights to the European Union, including those operated by non-EU carriers, would be subject to the same rules as EU airlines.

Maltese MEP Daniel Attard, who sits on the Transport and Tourism Committee, welcomed the vote and described it as “a long-overdue win for consumers across Europe.” He expressed hope that the Council will now move forward constructively in the upcoming negotiations to reach a final agreement.

“This is a chance to improve the travel experience for millions of people across Europe. We now need a shared commitment to reach the final goal,” Attard said.

Explaining the real-life impact of the proposed rules, he added:

“If you experience a serious flight delay, you should not have to wait for months or fill in endless forms to get what you are owed. If you are travelling with your children, you should not have to pay more just to sit next to them. And when you book a flight, there should be no hidden charges for hand luggage. These are practical changes that put passengers at the centre, and we will keep working to make them a reality.”

Today’s vote sets the Parliament’s official position, but the final legislation will depend on the outcome of negotiations with the Council. Inter-institutional talks are expected to begin in the coming weeks.