Agreement on coach passengers' rights with scads of derogations

摘要

It was not easy but the Council of Transport Ministers, meeting in Brussels on 17 December 2009, succeeded in reaching a political deal on a draft regulation that grants new rights to passengers of buses and coaches. As expected, though, the ministers added possibilities for exemptions and derogations that are likely to limit its impact. The main point of debate in Council concerned the scope of the future regulation. In the European Commission's initial proposal, all regular bus and coach services are concerned: international and national, regional and even local routes.