EU countries green lights charges for cabin baggage

Euronews

06-06-2025

Proposals to allow charging air passengers for carry-on cabin baggage were green-lit by EU transport ministers on Thursday as part of wider reforms of EU air passenger rights, despite resistance from Germany, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.
As Euronews reported, the proposal would create a new free hand luggage item, one that can be slipped under the seat, leaving other stowed cabin bags exposed to charges.
The agreed proposals would mean airlines must reroute passengers at the earliest opportunity, including through other carriers or transport modes when appropriate.
If rerouting isn't offered within three hours, passengers may book their own travel and claim up to 400% of the original ticket cost in reimbursement.
Delays of over four hours on short and intra-EU flights (under 3,500 km) will trigger €300 in compensation.
Long-haul flights (over 3,500 km) will warrant €500 after six hours of delay.
Airlines would no longer be permitted to invoke "extraordinary circumstances" unless they prove all reasonable measures were taken to avoid disruption. Airlines would also be explicitly required to provide food, drinks, and accommodation during delays. If they fail to do so, passengers may arrange these themselves and claim costs back.
To bolster enforcement, the rules impose stricter information requirements. Airlines must clearly inform passengers of their rights at booking and during complaints handling.
New timelines are foreseen: passengers would have up to six months to submit a claim, and airlines must respond within 14 days.
'The position finally adopted today answers to an urgent call by air passengers and airlines for up-to-date, clearer and more straightforward rules. The revised rules will bring over 30 new rights to the air passengers, applicable from the moment when they buy a ticket, until they arrive at their destination, and in some cases even beyond. It is a historical milestone as an agreement couldn't have been reached in the last 12 years,' Dariusz Klimczak, Minister of Infrastructure of Poland, whose country holds the presidency of the Council, told reporters.
European consumer organisation BEUC criticised the position adopted by member states, saying it 'substantially decreases several key rights'. 'Although the deal improved some rights on paper, giving consumers improved access to information in case of disruption, care and assistance, it represents a substantial rollback of other key rights. Take compensation for instance. The new eligibility thresholds will deprive the majority of passengers from their compensation rights as most delays are between two and four hours,' Agustín Reyna, BEUC's director general, said after the vote.
'Consumer groups have already pointed out that airlines should stop charging passengers for their hand luggage by lodging a complaint with the consumer protection authorities and the European Commission last May. Such practices are contrary to EU rules and EU top court case law which states that hand luggage is an essential aspect of passengers' carriage. On the contrary, the text adopted by the Council legitimises charging for reasonably sized hand luggage,' the director added. The next legislative steps
Now it is the turn of the European Parliament to adopt its position on the file. If it does so, the text will enter interinstitutional negotiations with member states, the Parliament and the Commission to find a common position on the new rules.
BEUC lamented the fact that the revision is being conducted through an expedited procedure that gives shorter deadlines in the Parliament, which will only need to approve the proposal by an absolute majority.
Global police organisation Interpol says that 20 people have been arrested as part of a major international operation against the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
The arrests were made between March and May in an operation that spanned 12 countries. It was led by the Spanish National Police in collaboration with Interpol and Europol.
"The operation was initiated by Spain in late 2024, when specialised officers carried out online patrols and identified instant messaging groups dedicated to the circulation of child sexual exploitation images," Interpol said in a statement.
Through Interpol and Europol, Spanish officers alerted authorities in countries where the alleged perpetrators were residing.
Spanish authorities arrested seven suspects, including a healthcare worker and a teacher.
"The healthcare worker allegedly paid minors from Eastern Europe for explicit images, while the teacher is accused of possessing and sharing child sexual abuse material via various online platforms," Interpol said.
In Spain, the searches carried out by police resulted in the seizure of desktop computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets and digital storage devices.
Authorities in seven Latin American countries detained 10 suspects, including a teacher in Panama.
The remaining arrests were made in the US and other parts of Europe.
"Bulgaria, Italy and Portugal participated at the European level," an Interpol spokesperson told Euronews.
So far, 68 additional suspects have been identified and further investigations are underway globally, according to Interpol.
"Information gathered during the operation has been shared with law enforcement authorities in 28 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania," Interpol added.
The arrests were preceded by talks between Interpol and Spanish investigators in Chile at the Latin America Victim Identification Task Force meeting. The operation was presented there to specialised officers from across Latin America.
Authorities exchanged information on cases, provided concrete leads and launched coordinated actions.