EU Parliament backs stronger protection for package travel travellers

The European Parliament adopted on 12 March 2026 its legislative resolution to make the protection of travellers more effective and to simplify and clarify certain aspects of Directive (EU) 2015/2302 on package travel and linked travel arrangements. The resolution, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 26 August 2026 under reference C/2026/4032, was taken under the ordinary legislative procedure at first reading.

The text responds to the Commission proposal COM(2023)0905, submitted under Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and follows the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 24 April 2024. Because an agreement was reached between Parliament and the Council, Parliament’s position corresponds to the final legislative act, Directive (EU) 2026/1024.

A clearer, more protective framework

The reform aims to close gaps in the current rules so that travellers buying package holidays and linked travel arrangements enjoy more effective protection across the whole of the European Union. It also seeks to simplify and clarify provisions that have proved difficult to apply in practice for both consumers and travel agencies.

The resolution builds on the work of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, whose report A10-0140/2025 underpins the adopted position, together with the opinion of the Committee on Transport and Tourism. The Council representative gave its undertaking to approve the position by letter of 19 December 2025.

Key elements of the position

• The position replaces the amendments adopted on 11 September 2025 (P10_TA(2025)0195).
• It is based on the provisional agreement approved by the responsible committee under Rule 75(4) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure.
• The final act is adopted as Directive (EU) 2026/1024, amending Directive (EU) 2015/2302.

Next steps

Parliament calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal. It also instructs its President to forward the position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

For the millions of Europeans who book package holidays each year, the reform means clearer rights and stronger safeguards when things go wrong, while travel agencies gain a more predictable and simplified legal framework across the single market.

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, C series, C/2026/4032, 26.8.2026 (official reference: C/2026/4032).