WRITTEN QUESTION E-2747/99 by Gérard Deprez (PPE-DE) to the Council. Common rules for a denied-boarding compensation system.
C 280 E/122 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 10. 2000 (2000/C 280 E/129) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2747/99 by GØrard Deprez (PPE-DE) to the Council (13 January 2000) Subject: Common rules for a denied-boarding compensation system Many travellers seem to be suffering at the moment from the effects of gaps in the regulations in force concerning the denied-boarding compensation system in air transport (Council Regulation No 295/91 (1)). For instance, it seems that little compensation has actually been paid in cases of denied boarding, and that the information has not been properly conveyed in agencies or airports. In addition, the exclusion of charter flights and ticket-less (voucher) flights from the regulationís scope denies compensation to many travellers who have suffered from overbooking. A new proposal designed to make good these deficiencies was submitted to the Council in July 1998. Could the Council say why it has not yet taken a decision on the text, which is very important for all travellers, and say when it expects to do so? (1) OJ L 36, 8. 2. 1991, p. 5. Reply (16 March 2000) The Council is aware of the situation to which the Honourable Member refers. In general, it feels that that situation is often caused by the lack of proper information and that passengers ought to be made more aware of the rights they already have under Council Regulation (EEC) No 295/91 establishing common rules for a denied-boarding compensation system in scheduled air transport. In order to make good certain deficiencies in the present rules, and in particular to cover the situation of charter flights and ticketless flights, the Council is examining a Commission proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 295/91. That proposal for a Regulation also includes provisions requiring more extensive information for passengers, both in travel agencies and at airports, regarding passengersí rights to compensation. The Councilís proceedings on this matter are progressing but the question of the application of the Regulation to the airport of Gibraltar has still to be settled. It is not possible at this stage to indicate dates as requested by the Honourable Member. (2000/C 280 E/130) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2749/99 by GØrard Deprez (PPE-DE) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: European campaign against violence against women In the context of the Daphne initiative and the European campaign against violence against womení, which resulted from Parliamentís 1997 resolution Violence against womení (A4-0250/97 (1)), could the Commission state: 1. which projects have been given aid in 1999, particularly in Belgium, 2. whether it considers these projects have had a real impact on violence against women, 3. if applicable, what does it intend to do to improve the effectiveness of these two initiatives, and 4. which campaign projects have already been drawn up and approved for 2000? (1) OJ C 304, 6. 10. 1997, p. 55