On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive (EU) 2015/2302 to make the protection of travellers more effective and to simplify and clarify certain aspects of the Directive
A-10-2025-0140
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection · Rapporteur: Alex Agius Saliba
- Voted on — Package travel and linked travel arrangements: make the protection of traveller… · Adopted 537–2–24 · See the decision →
- Voted on — Package travel and linked travel arrangements: make the protection of traveller… · Adopted 535–36–47 · See the decision →
- Full procedure 2023/0435
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.
Parliament's amended version of the proposal to amend Directive (EU) 2015/2302 on package travel simplifies the definition of 'package', deletes the concept of 'linked travel arrangement', and updates rules on prepayments, vouchers, insolvency protection, and traveller information.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection proposes to amend the Commission proposal to simplify the package definition, delete linked travel arrangements, and strengthen traveller protections.¶¶¶
Key points
- The definition of 'package' is clarified to include bookings at one point of sale where services are selected before payment, and bookings made within 24 hours after an active invitation by the trader.¶¶¶
- The concept of 'linked travel arrangement' is deleted from the Directive, and Annex II is removed.¶¶¶
- For packages combining accommodation with other tourist services, the criterion for a package is set at 'at least 25%' of the value, and on-site activities intrinsic to accommodation do not create a package.¶
- Downpayments may be subject to limitations based on national provisions, and organisers can request appropriate levels of downpayment.¶¶
- Rules on vouchers are detailed: they require express traveller consent, can be transferred once free of charge, have a maximum validity of 12 months, and must be refunded if not redeemed.¶¶¶
- Travellers may terminate a contract without fee if unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances significantly affect the package, with official travel warnings as important elements.¶¶
- Insolvency protection must cover refunds and repatriation, and travellers must be informed of insolvency without undue delay.¶¶¶
- Member States must designate central contact points and create public inventories of traders selling packages and their insolvency protection entities.¶
- Organisers and retailers must set up complaint-handling mechanisms with deadlines for responses, and penalties for infringements must include fines of at least 4% of annual turnover.¶¶¶
- Organisers, retailers, and other actors may participate in alternative dispute resolution procedures.¶
Who is affected
- Travellers buying packages: benefit from clarified package definition, stronger insolvency protection, and clearer information on rights.¶¶¶
- Organisers and retailers: must comply with new rules on prepayments, vouchers, complaint handling, and insolvency protection.¶¶¶
- Traders previously facilitating linked travel arrangements: no longer subject to specific obligations under the Directive.¶¶
- Member States: must implement new rules on penalties, insolvency protection supervision, and central contact points.¶¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- At least 25% of the value of a combination of accommodation and tourist services to qualify as a package.¶
- 24 hours within which additional bookings after an invitation are considered part of a package.¶¶
- 14 days for refunds after termination of a package travel contract.¶
- 12 months maximum validity period for vouchers, extendable once by up to 12 months.¶
- 6 months for refunds after insolvency, instead of the previous 3 months.¶
- 4% of annual turnover as minimum maximum fine for infringements.¶
- 24 months for Member States to adopt and publish transposition laws, and 6 months to apply them.¶
Legal basis: Article 114 and Article 294 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union¶¶