Collective Commentary about the New Package Travel Directive

562 COLLECTIVE COMMENTARY ABOUT THE NEW PACKAGE TRAVEL DIRECTIVE It should be taken into account what is indicated in Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the provisions of Directive (EU) 2015/2302 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on package travel and linked travel arrangements applying to online bookings made at different points of sale (SWD(2019) 270 final) 6 and Commission staff working document accompanying the document and in the Commission staff working document accompanying the mentioned Report 7 . According to the European Commission the contents of the Directive are the following 8 : “Clear information for travellers: Businesses must inform travellers whether they are offered a package or linked travel arrangement, and on their key rights through standardised information forms. They must provide clear information on the features and characteristics of the package, its price and any additional charges. Money-back and repatriation in case of bankruptcy: Organisers of packages must take out insolvency protection. This guarantee covers refunds and repatriation in case organisers go bankrupt. This guarantee applies also to linked travel arrangements. Clear rules on liability: The organiser of the package is liable if something goes wrong, no matter who performs the travel services. Strong cancellation rights: With the new rules, travellers may cancel their package holiday for any reason by paying a reasonable fee. They may cancel their holiday, free of charge should their destination become dangerous for example because of war or natural disasters or if the package price is raised over 8% of the original price. Accommodation if the return journey cannot be carried out: Where travellers cannot return from their package holidays, for instance in the case of natural disasters, travellers are granted accommodation for up to three nights if they cannot return from their holiday on time. Additional nights are covered in line with the relevant passenger rights regulations. 6 Brussels, 21 June 2019 COM(2019) 270 final. Available in: https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/live_ work_travel_in_the_eu/consumers/documents/com_2019_270_f1_report_from_commission_en.pdf (Consulted 28 july 2019). 7 Brussels, 21 June 2019 SWD(2019) 270 final. Available in: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52019SC0270&from=FR (Consulted 28 July 2019). 8 Available in: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/consumers/travel-and-timeshare-law/package-travel- -directive_en (Consulted 28 July 2019).