EU Parliament and Council fail to reach agreement on airline passenger rights

Negotiations between the European Parliament and EU Council on reform of airline passenger rights failed overnight. However, the parties agreed to continue talks later the same day.

The EU's two main legislative institutions – the European Parliament and the EU Council – failed to reach an agreement on airline passenger rights reform during overnight negotiations. Despite this setback, both sides decided to continue dialogue and will meet again the same day.

The airline passenger rights reform affects millions of Europeans who use air transport daily. The reform aims to clarify and strengthen passenger rights in cases of flight delays, cancellations, and baggage-related problems. However, the European Parliament and Council hold different views on how far the reform should go.

The continuation of negotiations offers hope that both institutions are willing to move towards compromise. Under the EU legislative process, the Parliament and Council must reach a common position before the reform can take effect. Under current rules, airline passenger rights have been in force in the European Union since 2004, but they have faced numerous criticisms over weak enforcement and unclear regulations.

The ongoing reform process reflects broader EU efforts to strengthen consumer protection in the aviation sector, a priority as air travel continues to grow across the bloc.