Legislation

In their first discussion of the proposal on Tuesday, transport committee MEPs welcomed the proposal to update air passengers' rights tabled by the Commission on 13 March but insisted that it include rules on hand luggage and solutions for passengers stranded if an airline goes bankrupt. Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas paid tribute to Parliament's preparatory work in 2012. The transport committee will appoint rapporteurs for the two regulations in the coming weeks.

On 12 March 2013, the European Parliament voted to support the new legislation on Alternative Dispute Resolution and Online Dispute Resolution. The vote confirms the political agreement reached in December 2012 on the two legislative proposals put forward by the European Commission in 2011. The new legislation will now soon be adopted.

The European Commission surprisingly presented today new measures to strengthen air passenger rights including a revisionof the Air Passenger's Rights Regulation 261/2004/EC takeing into account the sharing od the economic burden.

Russia will ban smoking in some public places by June 1. Smoking will be prohibited in long-distance trains, aircraft and commuter transport, and less than 45 feet from the entrances to rail stations, metro stations and airports. In June 2014, smoking will be banned in hotels, cafes, restaurants and on commuter platforms.

Source: Travel Weekly