Transports aériens -Les consommateurs européens abandonnés

 

UNE LETTRE ELOQUENTE DE LA COMMISSION EUROPEENE

LES CONSOMMATEURS NE PEUVENT COMPTER QUE SUR EUX-MEMES

 

Nous avons informé la commission Européenne du comportement général de notoriété publique des transporteurs aériens et  le rapport d’EURO-INFO-CONSOMMATEURS leur avait été envoyé, de même qu'un témoignage de la DGAC leur avait été transmis;  la réponse est éloquente.

Selon les termes de cette réponse les citoyens européens doivent se débrouiller seuls et ne peuvent compter ni sur la Commission Européenne, ni sur les entités Nationales chargées d’imposer la règlementation européenne ; les termes de cette réponse sont les suivants :

1-      La Commission Européenne n’est pas compétente pour imposer l’application de la réglementation européenne 

2-      La Commission Européenne  n’intervient que i elle constate qu’un Etat-membre ne prend pas les mesures pour imposer l’application de la règlementation européenne

 3-      Les Etat membres doivent mettre en place des Entités Nationales chargées d’imposer l’application de la règlementation européenne 

4-      Ces entités ne sont là que pour administrer les plaintes et donner des avis elles n’ont pas d’autorité légale. 

5-      Pour faire valoir leurs droits les citoyens européens ne doivent ni compter sur la Commission Européenne, ni sur les entités Nationales chargées d’imposer la règlementation européenne mais doivent prendre conseil auprès de’ juristes et entamer des actions légales individuelles. 

6-      S’ils n’agissent pas rapidement leurs droits peuvent devenir caduques. 

Il semblerait que l’Union Européenne doive craindre autant les Eurosceptiques que ses propres institutions.

 

Ci-dessous notre lettre et celle de la Commission Européenne.

  

1-Notre lettre  

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Mr. Siim KALLAS- Commissioner

Transports

 

4 April 2011

 

Object : NON APPLICATION OF EUROPEAN REGULATIONS IN  TRANSPORTS

 

 

Dear Sir 

I am aware of the problems regarding difficulties to convince member States member to implement the European rules. 

Now I discover that even commercial companies have decided not to apply the European regulations and this for many years without apparent penal steps against them. 

The culprits are the main European Air transporters which refuse to apply the regulation 261-2004. 

The French DGAC mentioned to me 5000 pending cases and the EURO-INFO-CONSOMMATEURS -ECC 900 case for the sole year 2010..

I send you their report in attachment. 

The situation appears to be chaotic.


Does the European Commission intend to do something to solve immediately the problem and thus protect the European citizens?

Will sanctions be taken against these companies?

…… 

This type of situation has a very bad effect on the European Union reputation and this is unfortunate. You are aware of the increasing massive abstention to the elections of the European Parliament.

Yours Sincerely,

Didier BERTIN 

 

 

 

 

2-Leur Réponse 

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

DIRECTORATE –GENERAL FOR MOBILITY AND TRANSPORT

DIRECTORATE A-General Policy

A.4-Services of General interest, passenger right & infringement

Brussels 10 May 2011

MOVE.A4/KK/az D (2011)499196- 03.13.02.07.06.F010

 

Dear Mr. Bertin,

Thank you for your email of April 5 2011, sent to the mailbox of Vice President Siim Kallas concerning Regulation (EC) 261/2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights. Vice President Kallas has asked me to reply to your query.

Let me first of all state that the enforcement of the regulation 261/2004is a national responsibility. Member States have to establish National Enforcement Bodies (NEBs) whose main tasks are to deal with complaints from passengers and ensure that air passenger rights are properly respected. The European Commission has no competence to enforce the regulation. It considers that it should intervene only if there is a pattern of cases which show that a member State is failing to enforce the Regulation. The Commission organizes regular meetings and keeps constant contacts with these National Enforcement Bodies to ensure that air passenger rights are implemented in a harmonized way. The Commission is, therefore, constantly monitoring the situation.

This being said, I would like to point out that the handling and settling of passenger complaints relating to the Regulation on air passengers rights must be done first by the airline company, and then, if the passenger is still dissatisfied , by the competent National Body, or by the competent national jurisdiction.

You will find additional information and list of all national enforcement bodies on the following website: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/passenger/air/air_en.htm.

 

Furthermore, I would like to point out that, although the NEB can provide you with a reasoned opinion on the case, its decision is not legally binding. Therefore, it may be in your interest also to take a legal advice on using the means of redress available at national level if you feel that your rights have not been respected. However, since there is a time limit on most means of redress, you may forfeit your rights if you do not exercise them quickly.

Yours sincerely,

Salvatore D’ACUNTO

Head of Unit