Labour MEPs Welcome New Passenger Rights - 2009-04-22

On Thursday MEPs will vote in Strasbourg to give bus, coach and ship passengers basic rights that will be comparable to those that have already been granted by the EU for air and rail passengers.

Transport companies will now be liable in the event of delayed and cancelled services while passengers with reduced mobility will be given a new set of fundamental rights to aid them before, during and after their journey.

For the first time, coach, bus and ferry companies will be forbidden to deny boarding to passengers on grounds of disability while free assistance must be provided at all terminals and ports.

Labour Transport Spokesman in the European Parliament, Robert Evans MEP who helped steer the new legislation through Parliament said: "This will be a massive help not just for disabled people but also for the elderly, parents with young children and pregnant women."

"Europe must be a common market for all people, not just goods and capital." He continued, "Disabled and elderly people deserve the same rights as all other passengers. This legislation brings us a step closer to achieving this."

All passengers will have the right to compensation in the event of denied boarding, delay, baggage loss and damage, as well as rights for compensation for accidents resulting in injuries or death. For delays of over two hours, companies will have to provide alternative transport services with passengers being entitled to compensation as well as ticket reimbursement.

Socialist Group Spokesperson for the Parliament's Transport Committee, Brian Simpson MEP, also welcomes the legislation, saying, "This shows once again that Labour MEPs are determined to put passengers at the top of our transport policy priorities. If we want a fairer future across all transport modes we need to give the consumer a better deal."

For more information please call the European Parliamentary Labour Party press officer, Silke Thomson on +32 479 790 053.

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