Stanislav Stoyanov from "Europe of Sovereign Nations" believes that passenger rights must be better protected. The MEP from "Vazrazhdane" spoke during a meeting of the Transport Committee in the European Parliament.
Based on the numerous cases in which Bulgarian citizens are placed in an unequal position and forced to stand for hours at airports or stations, Stoyanov categorically stated that the European Union must implement clear travel rules.
"Ensuring clear, enforceable rights for both passengers and carriers is crucial for strengthening the possibilities for multimodal travel in the EU. I welcome the provisions guaranteeing equal treatment of passengers in terms of tickets and transport conditions, timely information, clear rights in case of missed connections, assistance for persons with reduced mobility, and robust service quality standards.” said Stanislav Stoyanov.
However, Stoyanov expressed concerns about the financial and administrative impact on rail transport.
“Direct application of the regulation without derogations would impose an excessive burden on rail operators. I therefore call for a minimum five-year derogation for Article 7 (Reimbursement and re-routing) and Article 9 (Assistance).”, he added.
According to him, the definition imposed in the European Union for “contractual carrier“ in air transport, should be clearly specified, as the current wording creates uncertainty as to whether the responsibilities lie with the carrier or the intermediary selling the service.
“Passenger rights and protection must be improved, but not at the expense of imposing excessive obligations on transport operators, which could undermine competitiveness and increase costs for travellers. A balanced approach is needed, as well as an appropriate transition period." said Stanislav Stoyanov at the end of his speech.