Vouchers instead of money back on canceled trips - this was the solution the federal government wanted to help the hard-hit travel industry. But Brussels rejects this.
Berlin (dpa) - The EU Commission remains tough in the dispute with Germany over a voucher solution for canceled trips - the coalition is now looking for alternatives.
The federal government's tourism commissioner, Thomas Bareiß, said the situation is getting worse every day. "That is why we need a solution quickly for the entire travel industry and the customers concerned."
According to EU law, vacation packages and plane tickets must be reimbursed promptly. The federal government, however, wants a mandatory voucher solution to secure liquidity for companies. Brussels would have to agree to such a solution.
The EU Commission rejects this. In a letter from Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders to several Federal Ministers, he was aware that the travel industry desperately needed support: "But consumer protection must be protected at the same time, especially since the crisis also affects many consumers. I also think it is important that the travel and tourism industry builds its recovery on trust. " The letter was available to the German Press Agency.
Reynders wrote that one solution could be to offer consumers a pragmatic and attractive voluntary alternative to reimbursement of payments made. "In this sense, tour operators could issue vouchers under certain conditions."
EU Transport Commissioner Adina Valean also made it clear in a letter to several federal ministers, from which the ARD capital studio quoted, that EU passenger rights also apply during the Corona crisis. No passenger could be forced to accept a voucher instead of a refund.
Bareiß said: "We have taken note of the European Commission's response to our proposals. The European Commission sees no room for the voucher solutions we have proposed. I very much regret that."
"The compulsory vouchers will not come because we will not go it alone nationally," said SPD parliamentary group spokesman Johannes Fechner, the "Handelsblatt". He no longer believes that a statement on mandatory travel vouchers is coming from Brussels. "That's why the compulsory vouchers are off the table."
Fechner is now advocating a fund solution to compensate travel companies. "One solution could be to reimburse travel funds with a state-funded fund. So that the costs do not stay with the taxpayer, the travel industry would replenish the fund within a certain period of time. This is a model with which the travel industry, travel customers and also consumer advocates Now it is the turn of Minister for Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier (CDU) to submit a proposal quickly.
Bareiß had also already brought in a rescue fund for the ailing travel industry and consumers - if a voucher solution for canceled trips did not work.