Package Travel

Fryderyk Zoll

Package Travel Directive

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 13 June 1990 on package travel, package holidays and package

tours (90/314/EEC)

Package Travel Directive• Whereas one of the main objectives of the Community is to complete the internal market, of

which the tourist sector is an essential part; • Whereas the national laws of Member States concerning package travel, package holidays and

package tours, hereinafter referred to as 'packages', show many disparities and national practices in this field are markedly different, which gives rise to obstacles to the freedom to provide services in respect of packages and distortions of competition amongst operators established in different Member States;

• Whereas the establishment of common rules on packages will contribute to the elimination of these obstacles and thereby to the achievement of a common market in services, thus enabling operators established in one Member State to offer their services in other Member States and Community consumers to benefit from comparable conditions when buying a package in any Member State;

• Whereas paragraph 36 (b) of the Annex to the Council resolution of 19 May 1981 on a second programme of the European Economic Community for a consumer protection and information policy (4) invites the Commission to study, inter alia, tourism and, if appropriate, to put forward suitable proposals, with due regard for their significance for consumer protection and the effects of differences in Member States' legislation on the proper functioning of the common market;

Package Travel Directive• Whereas in the resolution on a Community policy on tourism on 10 April 1984 (5) the

Council welcomed the Commission's initiative in drawing attention to the importance of tourism and took note of the Commission's initial guidelines for a Community policy on tourism;

• Whereas the Commission communication to the Council entitled 'A New Impetus for Consumer Protection Policy', which was approved by resolution of the Council on 6 May 1986 (6), lists in paragraph 37, among the measures proposed by the Commission, the harmonization of legislation on packages;

• Whereas tourism plays an increasingly important role in the economies of the Member States; whereas the package system is a fundamental part of tourism; whereas the package travel industry in Member States would be stimulated to greater growth and productivity if at least a minimum of common rules were adopted in order to give it a Community dimension; whereas this would not only produce benefits for Community citizens buying packages organized on the basis of those rules, but would attract tourists from outside the Community seeking the advantages of guaranteed standards in packages;

• Whereas disparities in the rules protecting consumers in different Member States are a disincentive to consumers in one Member State from buying packages in another Member State;

Package Travel DirectiveArticle 1 The purpose of this Directive is to approximate the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member

States relating to packages sold or offered for sale in the territory of the Community. Article 2 For the purposes of this Directive: 1. 'package' means the pre-arranged combination of not fewer than two of the following when sold or offered for sale

at an inclusive price and when the service covers a period of more than twenty-four hours or includes overnight accommodation:

(a) transport; (b) accommodation; (c) other tourist services not ancillary to transport or accommodation and accounting for a significant proportion of

the package. The separate billing of various components of the same package shall not absolve the organizer or retailer from the

obligations under this Directive; 2. 'organizer' means the person who, other than ocasionally, organizes packages and sells or offers them for sale,

whether directly or through a retailer; 3. 'retailer' means the person who sells or offers for sale the package put together by the organizer; 4. 'consumer' means the person who takes or agrees to take the package ('the principal contractor'), or any person on

whose behalf the principal contractor agrees to purchase the package ('the other beneficiaries') or any person to whom the principal contractor or any of the other beneficiaries transfers the package ('the transferee');

5. 'contract' means the agreement linking the consumer to the organizer and/or the retailer.

Package Travel DirectiveArticle 3 1. Any descriptive matter concerning a package and supplied by the organizer or the retailer to the consumer,

the price of the package and any other conditions applying to the contract must not contain any misleading information. 2. When a brochure is made available to the consumer, it shall indicate in a legible, comprehensible and accurate manner both the price and adequate information concerning:

(a) the destination and the means, characteristics and categories of transport used; (b) the type of accommodation, its location, category or degree of comfort and its main features, its approval

and tourist classification under the rules of the host Member State concerned; (c) the meal plan; (d) the itinerary; (e) general information on passport and visa requirements for nationals of the Member State or States

concerned and health formalities required for the journey and the stay; (f) either the monetary amount or the percentage of the price which is to be paid on account, and the timetable

for payment of the balance; (g) whether a minimum number of persons is required for the package to take place and, if so, the deadline for

informing the consumer in the event of cancellation. The particulars contained in the brochure are binding on the organizer or retailer, unless: - changes in such particulars have been clearly communicated to the consumer before conclusion of the

contract, in which case the brochure shall expressly state so, - changes are made later following an agreement between the parties to the contract.

Package Travel Directive Article 4 1. (a) The organizer and/or the retailer shall provide the consumer, in writing or any other appropriate

form, before the contract is concluded, with general information on passport and visa requirements applicable to nationals of the Member State or States concerned and in particular on the periods for obtaining them, as well as with information on the health formalities required for the journey and the stay;

(b) The organizer and/or retailer shall also provide the consumer, in writing or any other appropriate form, with the following information in good time before the start of the journey:

(i) the times and places of intermediate stops and transport connections as well as details of the place to be occupied by the traveller, e.g. cabin or berth on ship, sleeper compartment on train;

(ii) the name, address and telephone number of the organizer's and/or retailer's local representative or, failing that, of local agencies on whose assistance a consumer in difficulty could call.

Where no such representatives or agencies exist, the consumer must in any case be provided with an emergency telephone number or any other information that will enable him to contract the organizer and/or the retailer;

(iii) in the case of journeys or stays abroad by minors, information enabling direct contact to be established with the child or the person responsible at the child's place of stay;

(iv) information on the optional conclusion of an insurance policy to cover the cost of cancellation by the consumer or the cost of assistance, including repatriation, in the event of accident or illness.

Package Travel Directive

Article 44. (a) The prices laid down in the contract shall not be subject to

revision unless the contract expressly provides for the possibility of upward or downward revision and states precisely how the revised price is to be calculated, and solely to allow for variations in:

- transportation costs, including the cost of fuel, - dues, taxes or fees chargeable for certain services, such as landing

taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports and airports, - the exchange rates applied to the particular package. (b) During the twenty days prior to the departure date stipulated, the

price stated in the contract shall not be increased.

Package Travel

5. If the organizer finds that before the departure he is constrained to alter significantly any of the essential terms, such as the price, he shall notify the consumer as quickly as possible in order to enable him to take appropriate decisions and in particular:

- either to withdraw from the contract without penalty, - or to accept a rider to the contract specifying the

alterations made and their impact on the price. The consumer shall inform the organizer or the retailer

of his decision as soon as possible.

Package Travel6. If the consumer withdraws from the contract pursuant to paragraph 5, or if, for whatever cause, other than the fault of the

consumer, the organizer cancels the package before the agreed date of departure, the consumer shall be entitled: (a) either to take a substitute package of equivalent or higher quality where the organizer and/or retailer is able to offer him

such a substitute. If the replacement package offered is of lower quality, the organizer shall refund the difference in price to the consumer;

(b) or to be repaid as soon as possible all sums paid by him under the contract. In such a case, he shall be entitled, if appropriate, to be compensated by either the organizer or the retailer, whichever the

relevant Member State's law requires, for non-performance of the contract, except where: (i) cancellation is on the grounds that the number of persons enrolled for the package is less than the minimum number

required and the consumer is informed of the cancellation, in writing, within the period indicated in the package description; or

(ii) cancellation, excluding overbooking, is for reasons of force majeure, i.e. unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of the party by whom it is pleaded, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had been exercised.

7. Where, after departure, a significant proportion of the services contracted for is not provided or the organizer perceives that he will be unable to procure a significant proportion of the services to be provided, the organizer shall make suitable alternative arrangements, at no extra cost to the consumer, for the continuation of the packag, and where appropriate compensate the consumer for the difference between the services offered and those supplied.

If it is impossible to make such arrangements or these are not accepted by the consumer for good reasons, the organizer shall, where appropriate, provide the consumer, at no extra cost, with equivalent transport back to the place of departure, or to another return-point to which the consumer has agreed and shall, where appropriate, compensate the consumer.

Package TravelArticle 5 1. Member States shall take the necessary steps to ensure that the organizer and/or retailer party to the contract is liable to the

consumer for the proper performance of the obligations arising from the contract, irrespective of whether such obligations are to be performed by that organizer and/or retailer or by other suppliers of services without prejudice to the right of the organizer and/or retailer to pursue those other suppliers of services.

2. With regard to the damage resulting for the consumer from the failure to perform or the improper performance of the contract, Member States shall take the necessary steps to ensure that the organizer and/or retailer is/are liable unless such failure to perform or improper performance is attributable neither to any fault of theirs nor to that of another supplier of services, because:

- the failures which occur in the performance of the contract are attributable to the consumer, - such failures are attributable to a third party unconnected with the provision of the services contracted for, and are unforeseeable

or unavoidable, - such failures are due to a case of force majeure such as that defined in Article 4 (6), second subparagraph (ii), or to an event which

the organizer and/or retailer or the supplier of services, even with all due care, could not foresee or forestall. In the cases referred to in the second and third indents, the organizer and/or retailer party to the contract shall be required to give

prompt assistance to a consumer in difficulty. In the matter of damages arising from the non-performance or improper performance of the services involved in the package, the

Member States may allow compensation to be limited in accordance with the international conventions governing such services.

In the matter of damage other than personal injury resulting from the non-performance or improper performance of the services involved in the package, the Member States may allow compensation to be limited under the contract. Such limitation shall not be unreasonable.

3. Without prejudice to the fourth subparagraph of paragraph 2, there may be no exclusion by means of a contractual clause from the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2.

Package Travel4. The consumer must communicate any failure in the performance of a

contract which he perceives on the spot to the supplier of the services concerned and to the organizer and/or retailer in writing or any other appropriate form at the earliest opportunity.

This obligation must be stated clearly and explicily in the contract. Article 6 In cases of complaint, the organizer and/or retailer or his local representative, if

there is one, must make prompt efforts to find appropriate solutions. Article 7 The organizer and/or retailer party to the contract shall provide sufficient

evidence of security for the refund of money paid over and for the repatriation of the consumer in the event of insolvency.

Article 8 Member States may adopt or return more stringent provisions in the field

covered by this Directive to protect the consumer.

Package Travel

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT (Sixth Chamber)12 March 2002 (1)(Directive 90/314/EEC - Package travel, package holidays and

package tours - Compensation for non-material damage) In Case C-168/00,REFERENCE to the Court under Article 234 EC by the

Landesgericht Linz (Austria) for a preliminary ruling in the proceedings pending before that court between

Simone LeitnerandTUI Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG,

Package TravelThe family of Simone Leitner (who was born on 7 July 1987) booked a package holiday (all-inclusive stay)

with TUI at the Pamfiliya Robinson club in Side, Turkey (the club) for the period 4 to 18 July 1997. � � � �8. On 4 July 1997 Simone Leitner and her parents arrived at the club. There they spent the entire

holiday and there they took all their meals. About a week after the start of the holiday, Simone Leitner showed symptoms of salmonella poisoning. The poisoning was attributable to the food offered in the club. The illness, which lasted beyond the end of the holiday, manifested itself in a fever of up to 40 degrees over several days, circulatory difficulties, diarrhoea, vomiting and anxiety. Her parents had to look after her until the end of the holiday. Many other guests in the club also fell ill with the same illness and presented the same symptoms.

9. Two to three weeks after the end of the holiday a letter of complaint concerning Simone Leitner's illness was sent to TUI. Since no reply to that letter was received, Simone Leitner, through her parents, brought an action for damages in the sum of ATS 25 000.

10. The court of first instance awarded the claimant only ATS 13 000 for the physical pain and suffering (Schmerzensgeld) caused by the food poisoning and dismissed the remainder of the application, � �which was for compensation for the non-material damage caused by loss of enjoyment of the holidays (entgangene Urlaubsfreude). That court considered that, if the feelings of dissatisfaction � �and negative impressions caused by disappointment must be categorised, under Austrian law, as non-material damage, they cannot give rise to compensation because there is no express provision in any Austrian law for compensation for non-material damage of that kind.

Package Travel 11. The claimant appealed to the Landesgericht Linz, which concurs with the court of first instance

so far as regards Austrian law, but considers that application of Article 5 of the Directive could lead to a different outcome. In that connection, the Landesgericht cites Case C-355/96 Silhouette International Schmied [1998] ECR I-4799, paragraph 36, where the Court ruled that, while a directive cannot of itself impose obligations on an individual and cannot therefore be relied upon as such against an individual, a national court is required to interpret the provisions of national law in the light of the wording and the purpose of the directive so as to achieve the result it has in view.

12. The national court observes in addition that the German legislature has adopted legislation expressly concerning compensation for non-material damage where a journey is prevented or significantly interfered with and that in practice German courts do award such compensation.

13. Taking the view that the wording of Article 5 of the Directive is not precise enough for it to be possible to draw from it any definite conclusion as to non-material damage, the Landesgericht Linz decided to stay proceedings and to refer the following question to the Court for a preliminary ruling:

Is Article 5 of Council Directive 90/314/EEC of 13 June 1990 on package travel, package holidays �and package tours to be interpreted as meaning that compensation is in principle payable in respect of claims for compensation for non-material damage? �

Package Travel

• The question• 14. By its question the national court seeks

to ascertain whether Article 5 of the Directive must be interpreted as conferring, in principle, on consumers a right to compensation for non-material damage resulting from failure to perform or the improper performance of the obligations inherent in the provision of package travel.

Package Travel

• Arguments of the parties• 15. According to Simone Leitner, the third recital in the

preamble to the Directive makes it clear that operators must be able to offer packages in all the Member States on the same conditions. The fourth subparagraph of Article 5(2) of the Directive makes it possible to set contractual limits to liability incurred in the case of non-material damage resulting from the non-performance or improper performance of the services constituting a package holiday. That provision means that, according to the Directive, non-material damage must in principle be the subject of compensation.

Package Travel• TUI and the Austrian, French and Finnish Governments are,

essentially, at one in arguing that the harmonisation of national laws sought by the Directive consists merely of defining a minimum level of protection for consumers of package holidays. In consequence, anything not expressly covered by the Directive in that field, and in particular the kind of damage to be compensated, remains within the competence of the national legislatures. The Directive does no more than set out a body of essential common rules concerning the content, conclusion and performance of package tour contracts without exhaustively regulating the entire subject, in particular, matters relating to civil liability. Accordingly, the existence of a right to compensation for non-material damage cannot be inferred from the absence of an express reference thereto in the Directive.

Package Travel• 17. The Belgian Government submits that the general and unrestricted use of the term

damage in the first subparagraph of Article 5(2) of the Directive implies that that term is to � �be construed broadly, with the result that damage of every kind must in principle be covered by the legislation implementing the Directive. In those Member States which recognise liability for non-material damage under the ordinary law, the Directive provides the right to set limits to that liability in accordance with certain criteria. In those Member States in which liability for non-material damage depends on the existence of an express provision to that effect, the absence of such a provision must be deemed to exclude absolutely compensation for non-material damage, which is contrary to the Directive.

• 18. The Commission first points out that the term damage is used in the Directive without � �the least restriction, and that, specifically in the field of holiday travel, damage other than physical injury is a frequent occurrence. It then notes that liability for non-material damage is recognised in most Member States, over and above compensation for physical pain and suffering traditionally provided for in all legal systems, although the extent of that liability and the conditions under which it is incurred vary in detail. Lastly, all modern legal systems attach ever greater importance to annual leave. In those circumstances, the Commission maintains that it is not possible to interpret restrictively the general concept of damage used in the Directive and to exclude from it as a matter of principle non-material damage.

Package TravelThe first subparagraph of Article 5(2) of the Directive requires the Member States to take the necessary steps to

ensure that the holiday organiser compensates the damage resulting for the consumer from the failure to �perform or the improper performance of the contract. �

20. In that regard, it is clear from the second and third recitals in the preamble to the Directive that it is the purpose of the Directive to eliminate the disparities between the national laws and practices of the various Member States in the area of package holidays which are liable to give rise to distortions of competition between operators established in different Member States.

21. It is not in dispute that, in the field of package holidays, the existence in some Member States but not in others of an obligation to provide compensation for non-material damage would cause significant distortions of competition, given that, as the Commission has pointed out, non-material damage is a frequent occurrence in that field.

22. Furthermore, the Directive, and in particular Article 5 thereof, is designed to offer protection to consumers and, in connection with tourist holidays, compensation for non-material damage arising from the loss of enjoyment of the holiday is of particular importance to consumers.

23. It is in light of those considerations that Article 5 of the Directive is to be interpreted. Although the first subparagraph of Article 5(2) merely refers in a general manner to the concept of damage, the fact that the fourth subparagraph of Article 5(2) provides that Member States may, in the matter of damage other than personal injury, allow compensation to be limited under the contract provided that such limitation is not unreasonable, means that the Directive implicitly recognises the existence of a right to compensation for damage other than personal injury, including non-material damage.

Package Travel

• 24. The answer to be given to the question referred must therefore be that Article 5 of the Directive is to be interpreted as conferring, in principle, on consumers a right to compensation for non-material damage resulting from the non-performance or improper performance of the services constituting a package holiday.

Package TravelJUDGMENT OF THE COURT (Third Chamber)30 April 2002 (1)(Directive 90/314/EEC - Package travel, package holidays and package tours - Definition

of package travel and pre-arranged)� � � �In Case C-400/00,REFERENCE to the Court under Article 234 EC by the Tribunal Judicial da Comarca do

Porto (Portugal) for a preliminary ruling in the proceedings pending before that court between

Club-Tour, Viagens e Turismo SAandAlberto Carlos Lobo Gonçalves Garrido,Third party:Club Med Viagens Ld.²,on the interpretation of Article 2(1) of Council Directive 90/314/EEC of 13 June 1990 on

package travel, package holidays and package tours,

Package TravelThe dispute in the main proceedings and the questions referred6. Mr Lobo Gonçalves Garrido purchased from Club-Tour, for PTE 1 692 928, a holiday consisting of air tickets and accommodation

for two weeks, full board, in the holiday village of Gregolimano (Greece). 7. For that purpose, Club-Tour bought a holiday from the travel agency Club Med Viagens Ld.² (Club Med). It was thus Club Med � �

which undertook to make the necessary reservations at the holiday village of Gregolimano for accommodation, meals and transfers, organised and published the holiday programme, and fixed the overall price.

8. On their arrival at the holiday village, Mr Lobo Gonçalves Garrido and his family noticed that it was infested by thousands of wasps, which prevented them - throughout their stay - from fully enjoying their holiday. Moreover, the immediate request by Mr Lobo Gonçalves Garrido for the transfer of himself and his family to another village could not be dealt with by Club-Tour, as the Club Med which it contacted stated that it was not in a position to arrange appropriate alternative accommodation.

9. For that reason, on his return home, Mr Lobo Gonçalves Garrido refused to pay the price of the holiday agreed with Club-Tour. The latter thereupon sought an order from the Tribunal Judicial da Comarca do Porto that Mr Lobo Gonçalves Garrido pay the price of the holiday. Before that court, Club-Tour denied that the Directive applied to the present proceedings, arguing that the holiday sold was outside its scope.

10. Taking the view that the Directive aims to protect consumers of holiday services by making tour operators and travel agents liable for loss caused to consumers as a result of the improper execution of a contract, and that national law must be interpreted and applied in accordance with the Directive, the Tribunal Judicial da Comarca do Porto referred the following questions to the Court for a preliminary ruling:

(1) Does a package organised by the agency, at the request and on the initiative of the consumer or a strictly defined group of �consumers in accordance with their wishes, including transport and accommodation through a tourism undertaking, at an inclusive price, for a period of more than 24 hours or including overnight accommodation, fall within the scope of the concept of package travel as defined in Article 2(1)? � �

(2) May the expression pre-arranged which appears in the directive be interpreted as referring to the moment when the contract is � �entered into between the agency and the customer? �

Package TravelThe first question11. By the first question, the court of reference essentially asks whether the word package used in Article 2(1) of � �

the Directive must be interpreted as including holidays organised by a travel agency at the request of and according to the specifications of a consumer or a defined group of consumers.

12. In line with the submissions of the governments and of the Commission to this Court, the answer to that question must be in the affirmative.

13. The Directive, which is designed amongst other things to protect consumers who buy package holidays, gives a � �definition of that term in Article 2(1) whereby it is enough, for a service to qualify as a package, if, first, the � �combination of tourist services sold by a travel agency at an inclusive price includes two of the three services referred to in that paragraph (namely transport, accommodation and other tourist services not ancillary to transport or accommodation and accounting for a significant proportion of the package), and, second, that service covers a period of more than 24 hours or includes overnight accommodation.

14. There is nothing in that definition to suggest that holidays organised at the request and in accordance with the specifications of a consumer or a defined group of consumers cannot be considered as package holidays within � �the meaning of the Directive.

15. That definition is reinforced by point (j) of the Annex to the Directive, which provides that, among the elements to be included in a contract covered by the Directive are special requirements which the consumer has �communicated to the organiser or retailer when making the booking, and which both have accepted. �

16. In those circumstances, the answer to the first question is that the term package used in Article 2(1) of the � �Directive must be interpreted as including holidays organised by a travel agency at the request of and according to the specifications of a consumer or a defined group of consumers.

Package Travel• The second question• 17. By its second question, the referring court essentially asks whether the term pre-�

arranged combination used in Article 2(1) of the Directive must be interpreted as including �combinations of tourist services which are put together at the time when the contract is concluded between the travel agency and the consumer.

• 18. Given the answer suggested by them to the first question, the governments which have submitted observations to the Court and the Commission propose an affirmative answer to the second question.

• 19. As it has been held in paragraph 16 of this judgment that the term package in Article � �2(1) of the Directive must be interpreted so as to include holidays organised in accordance with the consumer's specifications, the term pre-arranged combination which constitutes � �one of the elements of the definition of package, necessarily covers cases where the � �combination of tourist services is the result of the wishes expressed by the consumer up to the moment when the parties reach an agreement and conclude the contract.

• 20. The answer to the second question must therefore be that the term pre-arranged �combination used in Article 2(1) of the Directive must be interpreted so as to include �combinations of tourist services put together at the time when the contract is concluded between the travel agency and the consumer.

Package Travel

• 1. The term package used in Council Directive � �90/314/EEC of 13 June 1990 on package travel, package holidays and package tours, must be interpreted so as to include holidays organised by travel agents, at the request of and in accordance with the specifications of a consumer or limited group of consumers.

• 2. The term pre-organised combination used in Article � �2(1) of Directive 90/314 must be interpreted so as to include combinations of tourist services put together at the time when the contract is concluded between the travel agency and the consumer.

Package TravelJUDGMENT OF THE COURT (Grand Chamber)7 December 2010 (*)(Jurisdiction in civil and commercial matters – Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 – Article 15(1)(c) and (3) –

Jurisdiction over consumer contracts – Contract for a voyage by freighter – Concept of ‘package travel’ – Contract for a hotel stay – Presentation of the voyage and the hotel on a website – Concept of activity ‘directed to’ the Member State of the consumer’s domicile – Criteria – Accessibility of the website)

In Joined Cases C 585/08 and C 144/09,‑ ‑REFERENCES for a preliminary ruling under Articles 68 and 234 EC from the Oberster Gerichtshof

(Austria), made by decisions of 6 November 2008 and 26 March 2009, received at the Court on 24 December 2008 and 24 April 2009 respectively, in the proceedings

Peter Pammer vReederei Karl Schlüter GmbH & Co KG (C 585/08),‑andHotel Alpenhof GesmbH vOliver Heller (C 144/09),‑

Package TravelThe disputes in the main proceedings and the questions referred for a preliminary ruling Case C 585/08‑14 This dispute, between Mr Pammer, who resides in Austria, and Reederei Karl Schlüter, a company

established in Germany, concerns a voyage by freighter from Trieste (Italy) to the Far East organised by that company which gave rise to a contract between it and Mr Pammer (‘the voyage contract’).

15 Mr Pammer booked the voyage through Internationale Frachtschiffreisen Pfeiffer GmbH, a company whose seat is in Germany (‘the intermediary company’).

16 The intermediary company, which operates in particular via the internet, described the voyage on its website, indicating that there was a fitness room, an outdoor swimming pool, a saloon and video and television access on the vessel. Reference was also made to three double cabins with shower and toilet, to a separate living room with seating, a desk, carpeting and a fridge, and to stopping at ports of call from which excursions into towns could be undertaken.

17 Mr Pammer refused to embark and sought reimbursement of the sum which he had paid for the voyage, on the ground that that description did not, in his view, correspond to the conditions on the vessel. Since Reederei Karl Schlüter reimbursed only a part of that sum, that is to say, roughly EUR 3 500, Mr Pammer claimed payment of the balance, roughly EUR 5 000, together with interest before an Austrian court of first instance, the Bezirksgericht (District Court) Krems an der Donau.

18 Reederei Karl Schlüter contended that it did not pursue any professional or commercial activity in Austria and raised the plea that the court lacked jurisdiction.

Package Travel

It is in those circumstances that the Oberster Gerichtshof decided to stay proceedings and to refer the following questions to the Court for a preliminary ruling:

‘1. Does a “voyage by freighter” constitute package travel for the purposes of Article 15(3) of [Regulation No 44/2001]?

2. If the answer to Question 1 is in the affirmative: is the fact that an intermediary’s website can be consulted on the internet sufficient to justify a finding that activities are being “directed” [to the Member State of the consumer’s domicile] within the meaning of Article 15(1)(c) of Regulation No 44/2001?’

Package TravelIn order to determine whether a trader whose activity is presented on its website or on that of an intermediary

can be considered to be ‘directing’ its activity to the Member State of the consumer’s domicile, within the meaning of Article 15(1)(c) of Regulation No 44/2001, it should be ascertained whether, before the conclusion of any contract with the consumer, it is apparent from those websites and the trader’s overall activity that the trader was envisaging doing business with consumers domiciled in one or more Member States, including the Member State of that consumer’s domicile, in the sense that it was minded to conclude a contract with them.

The following matters, the list of which is not exhaustive, are capable of constituting evidence from which it may be concluded that the trader’s activity is directed to the Member State of the consumer’s domicile, namely the international nature of the activity, mention of itineraries from other Member States for going to the place where the trader is established, use of a language or a currency other than the language or currency generally used in the Member State in which the trader is established with the possibility of making and confirming the reservation in that other language, mention of telephone numbers with an international code, outlay of expenditure on an internet referencing service in order to facilitate access to the trader’s site or that of its intermediary by consumers domiciled in other Member States, use of a top-level domain name other than that of the Member State in which the trader is established, and mention of an international clientele composed of customers domiciled in various Member States. It is for the national courts to ascertain whether such evidence exists.

On the other hand, the mere accessibility of the trader’s or the intermediary’s website in the Member State in which the consumer is domiciled is insufficient. The same is true of mention of an email address and of other contact details, or of use of a language or a currency which are the language and/or currency generally used in the Member State in which the trader is established.

Package TravelJUDGMENT OF THE COURT (Fifth Chamber)16 February 2012 (*)(Directive 90/314/EEC — Package travel, package holidays and package

tours — Article 7 — Protection against the risk of insolvency or bankruptcy on the part of the package organiser — Scope — Insolvency of the organiser on account of its fraudulent use of the funds transferred by consumers)

In Case C 134/11,‑REFERENCE for a preliminary ruling under Article 267 TFEU from the

Landgericht Hamburg (Germany), made by decision of 2 March 2011, received at the Court on 18 March 2011, in the proceedings

Jürgen Blödel-PawlikvHanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AG,

Package TravelThe dispute in the main proceedings and the question referred for a preliminary ruling10 On 4 August 2009, Mr Blödel-Pawlik booked package travel for himself and his wife with Rhein Reisen GmbH (‘Rhein

Reisen’), a company which, as a travel organiser, had taken out insurance against insolvency — effective from 1 August 2009 — with HanseMerkur.

11 Rhein Reisen provided Mr Blödel-Pawlik with two notices of guarantee which confirmed that the cost of the trip would be refunded if the travel services failed to be provided owing to the travel organiser’s insolvency.

12 Before the start of the trip, Rhein Reisen informed Mr Blödel-Pawlik that it was obliged to declare itself insolvent. 13 It is apparent from the file that Rhein Reisen, represented by a sole administrator, never really intended to organise the

trip in question. Both the chronology of events and the transactions shown on the travel organiser’s bank account statements reveal fraudulent conduct on the part of that operator.

14 In those circumstances, Mr Blödel-Pawlik presented HanseMerkur with a claim for reimbursement of the price which he had paid for the trip.

15 HanseMerkur argues, however, that it is not required to arrange a refund, since Article 7 of Directive 90/314 does not cover a situation where the travel has been cancelled solely because of fraudulent conduct on the part of the travel organiser.

16 The Landgericht Hamburg (Regional Court, Hamburg) is also doubtful as to whether Directive 90/314 seeks to protect consumers against fraudulent conduct on the part of travel organisers.

17 On the view that resolution of the dispute before it depends on the interpretation of Directive 90/314, the Landgericht Hamburg decided to stay the proceedings and to refer the following question to the Court for a preliminary ruling:

‘Does Article 7 of [Directive 90/314] also apply where the travel organiser becomes insolvent because, from the beginning with fraudulent intent, it has used all the money collected from the travellers for an improper purpose and it was never intended that the trip would be organised?’

Package Travel• Consideration of the question referred• 18 By its question, the national court is essentially asking whether Article 7 of Directive

90/314 is to be interpreted as covering a situation in which the insolvency of the travel organiser is attributable to its own fraudulent conduct.

• 19 In that regard, it should be borne in mind, first of all, that Article 7 of Directive 90/314 places the travel organiser under an obligation to hold sufficient security for the refund of money paid over and for the repatriation of the consumer in the event of insolvency, the purpose of that security being to protect consumers against the financial risks arising from the insolvency of package travel organisers (see Joined Cases C 178/94, ‑C 179/94 and C 188/94 to C 190/94 ‑ ‑ ‑ Dillenkofer and Others [1996] ECR I 4845, paragraphs ‑34 and 35).

• 20 Thus, the fundamental objective of that provision is to ensure that the repatriation of the consumer and the refund of money paid over are guaranteed in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy on the part of a travel organiser (see, to that effect, Dillenkofer and Others, paragraphs 35 and 36).

• 21 It is clear that the wording of Article 7 of Directive 90/314 does not attach to the guarantee any specific condition regarding the causes of the travel organiser’s insolvency.

Package Travel• In that connection, the Court has held, in paragraph 74 of its judgment in Case C 140/97 ‑

Rechberger and Others [1999] ECR I 3499, that Article 7 of Directive 90/314 imposes an ‑obligation of result, that is to say, an obligation to guarantee package travellers the refund of money paid over and their repatriation in the event of the travel organiser’s bankruptcy, and that such a guarantee is specifically aimed at arming consumers against the consequences of the bankruptcy, whatever the causes of it may be.

• 23 The Court inferred from this that facts such as imprudent conduct on the part of the travel organiser or the occurrence of exceptional or unforeseeable events cannot constitute an obstacle to the refund of money paid over or to the repatriation of consumers under Article 7 of Directive 90/314 (see Rechberger and Others, paragraphs 75 and 76).

• 24 Moreover, such an interpretation of Article 7 of Directive 90/314 is substantiated by the objective which that directive must pursue, which is to ensure a high level of protection for consumers (see Dillenkofer and Others, paragraph 39).

• 25 In the light of the above considerations, the answer to the question referred is that Article 7 of Directive 90/314 is to be interpreted as covering a situation in which the insolvency of the travel organiser is attributable to its own fraudulent conduct.

Package Travel

Brussels, 9.7.2013COM(2013) 512 final2013/0246 (COD)Proposal for aDIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF

THE COUNCILon package travel and assisted travel arrangements,

amending Regulation (EC) No2006/2004, Directive 2011/83/EU and repealing Council

Directive 90/314/EEC

Package Travel1.2. Grounds for the proposal1.2.1. Development of Internet distribution and liberalisation in the airline sector73% of EU households had access to the Internet in 20119. Almost two-thirds of EU citizensuse the Internet at least once a week, more than half of them every day or almost every day.Travel services are among the most popular products purchased on-line.The development of online sales and the liberalisation in the airline sector have changed theway in which consumers organise their holidays, having led to different ways in which tradersassist consumers in customising combinations of travel services, in particular online. Therelevant traders include travel agents, tour operators, airlines, cruise lines, etc. There isambiguity in many Member States as to whether such combinations fall under the scope of theDirective and whether traders involved in putting together such combinations are liable for theperformance of the relevant services, especially in the online environment.This is causing uncertainty for traders and consumers.

Package Travel

Unnecessary compliance costs and obstacles to cross-border trade

Some of the provisions of the Directive have become outdated or otherwise create

unnecessary burden for companies, such as information requirements for brochures and the

inclusion of managed business trips.Legal fragmentation through numerous discrepancies in the

laws of the Member Statesgenerates additional costs for businesses wishing to trade

cross-border.

Package Travel1.2.3. Consumer detriment - unclear and outdated rulesThe "Consumer Detriment Study in the area of Dynamic Packages"10 estimated the

yearlypersonal consumer detriment11 in relation to combined travel arrangements where

theapplicability of the Directive is uncertain. The study showed that problems with such

travelarrangements are more frequent and more detrimental to consumers than problems

related totraditional packages which are clearly covered by the Directive.To a certain extent also consumers who buy traditional pre-arranged packages sufferdetriment, because some provisions of the Directive are outdated, unclear or leave

gaps, e.g.the absence of a right for consumers to cancel the package before the departure.

Package Travel2.2. Impact AssessmentThe Impact Assessment (IA) analysed eight policy options plus certain sub-options.Option 1 - Maintaining the status quo, i.e. maintaining the Directive in its present formOption 2 – Guidelines, i.e. maintaining the Directive in its current form and preparingguidelines, including CJEU rulings and clarification on the scope and liabilityOption 3 - Package Travel Label and/ or requirement on traders selling assisted travelarrangements to state that the services in question do not constitute a package (add-onoptions)Sub-option A - introduction of a "Package Travel Label" – an obligatory logotype to bepresented to consumers when purchasing a packageSub-option B - introduction of an obligation, for traders offering combined travelarrangements which are not packages, to clarify that they are not selling a packageOption 4 - Repeal of the Directive and self-regulation by industryOption 5 - Modernisation of the Directive and coverage of "one-trader packages"Option 5 involves a legislative revision which would keep the main structure of the existingDirective, while clarifying its scope through the explicit inclusion of "one-trader packages"and revising several provisions. The revised Directive would apply to travel services whichare combined for the same trip or holiday on one website or at one high street agent.

Package Travel DirectiveOption 6 – Graduated approach - modernisation of the Directive and coverage of both "onetrader"and "multi-trader" packages while applying a lighter regime to "multi-trader" assistedtravel arrangementsThis option corresponds to Option 5 supplemented with a graduated extension of the scope ofthe Directive aimed to cover:- "multi-trader" packages, i.e. combinations of travel services through different tradersshowing certain features associated with packages, which would be subject to the sameregime as other packages (including full liability for the proper contractual performance andthe obligation to procure insolvency protection),-"multi-trader" assisted travel arrangements, i.e. those combinations of travel services whichdo not display the typical features of packages and are hence less likely to mislead consumers.They would be subject to a lighter regime consisting of insolvency protection and anobligation to state in a clear and prominent manner that each individual service provider isresponsible for the correct performance of the services.Option 7 – Modernisation of the Directive covering both "one-trader" packages and "multitrader"travel arrangementsThis option includes Option 5 and 6, whilst subjecting all "multi-trader" assisted travelarrangements to the same obligations as packages.Option 8 – “Travel Directive”This option includes Option 7 plus an extension of the scope to stand-alone travel services,e.g. car rental, accommodation or flights, containing in principle the same rules for all travelservices irrespective of whether they are part of a package or not.The IA comes to the conclusion that the identified problems will be resolved mostappropriately by Option 6, which this proposal is based upon.

Package Travel3. LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL3.1. Summary of the proposed actionThe proposed Directive will clarify and modernise the scope of travellers' protection whenpurchasing combinations of travel services for the same trip or holiday by bringing within itsscope different forms of on-line packages and assisted travel arrangements.The proposal will ensure that travellers are better informed about the services they are

buyingand grant them clearer remedies if something goes wrong.At the same time, by reducing legal fragmentation and strengthening mutual recognition ofinsolvency protection, the proposal will minimise obstacles to cross-border trade and reducecompliance costs for traders wishing to operate cross-border, and ensure a level playing-

fieldin the travel market.

Package Travel4. EXPLANATION OF THE PROPOSALThe proposal consists of 29 articles and two annexes (a table relating articles of Directive90/314/EEC to articles of this proposal and the Legislative financial statement).4.1. Subject-matter, scope and definitions (Articles 1-3)Article 1 sets out the subject-matter of the Directive. In conjunction with the definitions of'package' and 'assisted travel arrangement' contained in Article 3, Article 2 determines itsscope, taking into account the different ways in which travel services can be combined.Based on the way in which travel services are presented to the traveller, combinations whichmeet any of the alternative criteria laid down in Article 3 (2) will be considered as packageswith the associated legal consequences for information requirements, liability and insolvencyprotection.Combinations where retailers, through linked booking processes, facilitate the procurement ofadditional travel services in a targeted manner or where the traveller concludes contracts withthe individual service providers and where the defining features of a package, e.g. an inclusiveor total price, are not present, are defined as 'assisted travel arrangements'. Retailers who arein the business of facilitating the purchase of 'assisted travel arrangements' are subject to therequirement to explain clearly to travellers that only the individual service providers are liablefor the performance of the travel services concerned. Furthermore, with a view to ensuring acertain layer of additional, Union-wide protection compared to the one stemming from ruleson passenger rights or general consumer acquis also for travellers buying more than one travelservice through them, it is appropriate to provide that such retailers have to ensure that, incase of their own insolvency or the insolvency of any of the service providers, travellers willreceive a refund of their pre-payments and, where relevant, will be repatriated.

Package TravelSince it is not appropriate to grant the same level of protection to business travellers whosetravel arrangements are made on the basis of a framework contract concluded between theiremployers and specialised operators often offering, on a business-to-business basis, a level ofprotection similar to the one stemming from this Directive (so-called managed businesstravel), such travel arrangements are excluded from the scope.Other limitations of the scope are maintained, including for so-called occasionally organisedpackages.Apart from 'packages' and 'assisted travel arrangements' Article 3 defines other key terms ofthe Directive, including 'traveller', 'organiser', 'retailer' and 'unavoidable and extraordinarycircumstances'. The 'organiser' is defined as a trader who combines and sells/ offers for salepackages, either directly or through/together with another trader. Organisers are liable for theperformance of the package (Articles 11 and 12), for providing assistance to the traveller(Article 14) and procuring insolvency protection (Article 15). Retailers and organisers areboth liable for providing pre-contractual information (Article 4). Retailers are liable forbooking errors (Article 19). Retailers facilitating the procurement of assisted travelarrangements are obliged to procure insolvency protection (Article 15).

Package Travel4.2. Information obligations, conclusion and content of the package travel contract(Articles 4 -6)Article 4 lists specific pre-contractual information which organisers and, where

applicable,retailers have to provide to travellers wishing to buy a package. These requirements

apply inaddition to information requirements under other applicable directives or

regulations.Article 5 regulates the conclusion of the package travel contract.Article 6 contains provisions on the content and the presentation of the contract or

itsconfirmation as well as on documents and information to be provided before the

start of thepackage.

Package Travel4.3. Changes to the contract before the start of the package (Articles 7-10)Similarly to Article 4 (3) of Directive 90/314/EEC, Article 7 lays down the conditions underwhich the traveller's right to transfer the package to another person may be exercised.Starting from the principle that agreed prices are binding, Article 8 lays down rules on thepossibility and consequences of price changes, given that package travel contracts are oftenconcluded a long time in advance. These rules are based on the same principles as Article 4(4) – (6) of Directive 90/314/EEC.Article 8 (2) maintains the right to impose price increases related to cost of fuel, taxes andexchange rate fluctuations, but clarifies the conditions compared with Directive 90/314/EEC.If an organiser reserves the right to price increases, it is now also obliged to grant travellersprice reductions. Prices may not be increased by more than 10% of the price of the package.With regard to changes other than price changes, distinct rules are set out for insignificant(Article 9(1)) and significant changes (Article 9 (2) and (3)).Compared with Directive 90/314/EEC, Article 10 contains additional termination rights fortravellers before the start of the package. The right for travellers to terminate the contractagainst an appropriate compensation (Article 10 (1)) corresponds to rules and practices foundin the Member States. Article 10 (2) grants travellers the right to terminate the contractwithout compensation in the event of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances.

Package Travel4.5. Insolvency protection (Articles 15 and 16)Directive 90/314/EEC created a general obligation for 'the organiser and/or retailer' to provideinsolvency protection so as to ensure the repatriation of passengers and the refund of advancepayments in the event of insolvency. Due to different legal solutions chosen by the MemberStates, this often led to duplication of costs for organisers and retailers. According to Article15 of this proposal, only package organisers and retailers who facilitate the purchase of'assisted travel arrangements' are subject to this obligation. At the same time, it lays downmore specific criteria on the effectiveness and the scope of the required protection.To facilitate cross-border operations, Article 16 (1) explicitly provides for the mutualrecognition of insolvency protection procured under the law of the organiser's/relevantretailer's Member State of establishment. To ensure administrative cooperation, Article 16obliges Member States to designate central contact points.

Package Travel4.6. Information requirements for assisted travel arrangements (Article

17)To ensure legal certainty and transparency for the parties, retailers

offering assisted travelarrangements have to explain to travellers in a clear and prominent

manner that only therelevant service providers are liable for performance of the services and

that travellers will notbenefit from any of the Union rights granted to package travellers,

except the right to a refundof pre-payments and, where relevant, to repatriation in case the retailer

itself or any of theservice providers becomes insolvent.

Package Travel4.7. General provisions (Articles 18 – 26)Article 18 contains particular rules for packages where the organiser it established outside theEEA.Under Article 19, retailers involved in the booking of packages and assisted travelarrangements are liable for booking errors.Article 20 clarifies that this Directive does not affect the organiser's right to seek redress fromthird parties.Article 21 confirms the imperative nature of the Directive.Article 22 on enforcement is a standard provision in the consumer acquis.Article 23 is a standard provision on penalties for infringements of the national provisionstransposing this Directive. Similar provisions can be found in the Consumer Rights Directive(2011/83/EU) and in the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC).Article 24 obliges the Commission to submit a report on the application of this Directive tothe European Parliament and the Council.Article 25 (2) amends Directive 2011/83 on consumer rights to ensure that that Directiveapplies fully to assisted travel arrangements and that certain general consumer rights applyalso to packages.