Coronavirus: EU gives formal notice to ten member countries to reimburse canceled trips

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The European Commission launched this Thursday 2 July an infringement procedure against ten EU member countries, including France, to force them to reimburse people whose journeys had to be canceled because of the Covid-19. 

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European legislation is clear: in the event of cancellation, a traveler can choose between reimbursement or a voucher. Pandemic or not, these rights must be respected. Throughout the coronavirus crisis, the Commission has stressed that consumer rights remain valid despite the unprecedented current environment.

Brussels therefore puts ten EU member states on notice to comply: France, but also the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal and Slovakia. It is up to their governments to ensure this. 

The decision is a double-edged sword, because it risks forcing tourism companies on the brink, especially the small ones, to dismiss their staff, or even to close the door. They can, however, specifies the European Commission, offer assets, rather than refunds, or postpone reimbursements beyond the 14-day deadline set by law.

These ten member states have two months to remedy the shortcomings that the Institution has identified. Otherwise Brussels will pass to the second stage of its infringement procedure. Ultimately, if after four months in total, nothing is done, he can seize the European Court of Justice. But, in general, most cases are resolved before reaching this point.

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• Coronavirus
• Tourism
• European Union