New EU rules that will bring protection for package holidays in line with today’s digital age moved a step closer today following a political agreement by EU government ministers at today’s Competitiveness Council.

The rules will extend protection of the 1990 EU Package Travel Directive to cover not only traditional package holidays, but also give clear protection to 120 million consumers who book other forms of combined travel.

For example, those travellers who choose a combination from a website of a flight plus hotel or car rental.

European Commissioner for justice, consumers and gender equality, Věra Jourová said: “If you plan your holidays you should not have to worry about insufficient legal protection.

“Travellers will clearly know what they are buying and what their rights are, especially if something goes wrong during their holidays.

“These new rules also support the travel industry that will benefit from less administrative burden and much-needed legal clarity.”

The European Parliament will vote in Plenary in June to endorse the agreement between the EU institutions.

The Council of the European Union will then also give its formal approval of the agreed text in September or October.

Following publication in the EU’s Official Journal in the autumn, Member States will have two years to implement the new rules and traders a further period of six months to adapt to the new rules.

More details available here .