The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Dimas, participated in the Council of Ministers of Infrastructure and Transport of the European Union held in Luxembourg, with the main objective of amending and supplementing existing legislation on passenger rights in air transport.
During the Council, Mr. Dimas’ position was developed along three lines:
· Strengthening the protection of passenger rights in air travel is the common will of all EU Member States and is finally being discussed at the highest level.
· A realistic and balanced approach is needed on the issue of delay thresholds for compensation, taking into account the need to protect passengers and, at the same time, the smooth functioning of the aviation sector.
· On the issue of connectivity, Greece has a dense air network, as air links between the islands and the mainland are essential for humanitarian, social, and tourism reasons.
As stated by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport:
“The effective strengthening of passenger rights in air transport is a common desire of all Member States of the European Union. Greece is at the forefront of the debate and our priority is to reach an agreement that will strengthen passenger rights without disrupting the smooth operation of air transport. This is what we have been working towards in recent months and will continue to do so in the coming period, so that we can soon reach a very good solution.”
During the Council meeting, Mr. Dimas also welcomed the European Commission’s legislative initiative to present an updated package on roadside checks, noting that there is a need to incorporate technological developments in the sector improve environmental performance and the condition of vehicles in circulation.
He added, however, that all of the above must take into account the impact on mobility and travel opportunities for citizens and that in the coming months, and that a constructive dialogue between Member States and the European Commission is needed to find the right mix of policies.
The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport also met with his counterparts from Ireland and Lithuania in order to launch discussions and procedures for the preparation of the Greek Presidency, under the coordinated mobilization of the 18-month joint action between the three successive presidencies of the Council of the EU.
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