With 35 votes in favour and only one against, the European Parliament has overwhelmingly approved a report by MEP Alex Agius Saliba aimed at providing stronger protections for consumers, particularly those travelling between countries.

The legislation, drafted and negotiated by Agius Saliba, addresses difficulties many consumers experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that “this law will give consumers stronger and new rights when they travel. We all remember the confusion during the pandemic, when people were unsure of their rights after booking holidays, especially those who had paid deposits or the full amount. Consumers were often left waiting months for answers. After the collapse of the Thomas Cook agency, we also saw thousands of people lose their deposits without hope of recovery.”

The law introduces five major changes:

Travel agents will be required to have insurance in place to protect consumer deposits in case of bankruptcy.

Consumers will have the option of receiving a refund or a voucher if a trip is cancelled.

Vouchers issued due to cancellation will be transferable and valid for one year.

Holiday-related complaints must be addressed within 14 days.

The maximum deposit a consumer can be asked to pay will be regulated by each member state, such as Malta, rather than by the EU.

Agius Saliba stated that he will continue working with the European Council and Commission to ensure these rights are implemented without delay.

#MaltaDaily