The Citizens Omnibus Initiative aims to reduce administrative burdens in EU legislation that affect people’s daily lives, particularly in cross-border situations, while ensuring they can fully benefit from the Single Market. As part of this process, the European Passengers’ Federation (EPF) was invited to share examples of administrative obstacles in transport and tourism and propose practical solutions to simplify rules, improve accessibility, and enhance their digital compatibility. In response to the Call for Evidence, EPF highlighted the following key recommendations:

• Simplification without loss of rights – Streamlining regulations is positive, but it must not weaken existing passenger and consumer rights. Any reforms should preserve current protections, benefits, and access to redress.
• Make passenger rights easier to use – Rights should be clearer and more accessible, through better information, simpler complaint processes, automatic reimbursement/ compensation and stronger enforcement.
• Easier multimodal and multi-operator travel – Planning and booking journeys involving multiple transport modes or operators should be simpler, with better integration, booking tools, and passenger protection.
• Harmonise rules and definitions – Consistent definitions and passenger rights across transport modes and borders would reduce confusion, improve legal certainty, and support seamless travel.
• Support seamless cross-border and sustainable travel – New border systems should not create excessive burdens or delays, and integrated public transport offers should promote sustainable tourism.
• Strengthen citizen participation – More accessible consultation processes and stronger support for civil society organisations are needed to ensure citizens’ views are effectively represented in EU decision-making.

Our contribution to the Call for Evidence can be downloaded here & here.