Press releases

The EU institutions approved a law which would allow citizens in all EU countries to go to court as a group if they have suffered the same damage. Consumer groups have been advocating for such a law for more than 30 years.

The owner of a Volkswagen car affected by the Dieselgate emissions scandal is due compensation, Germany’s highest civil court (Bundesgerichtshof) ruled today.
This landmark ruling from the Federal Court confirms the view of consumer groups that Volkswagen’s manipulation of car emissions has harmed consumers and that they are due compensation.

The European Commission published a recommendation to EU countries today, calling them to uphold travellers’ rights to reimbursement for travel cancelled due to COVID-19 and proposing how to offer voluntary vouchers to consumers.

This week will be crucial for European travellers’ rights as ministers discuss at the EU Council meetings how to support the tourism and transport industries during the COVID-19 crisis. Across Europe, airlines and travel operators have been openly flouting EU consumer law, refusing to reimburse consumers for cancelled travel, while many European governments have turned a blind eye or adopted national laws to impose vouchers or postpone reimbursement claims.