General aspects of consumer protection policy and, in particular, consumer information and education with regard to the application of Directive 90/314/EEC

The European Parliament adopted the resolution by Mr Philip BUSHILL-MATTHEWS (EPP-ED, UK). (Please refer to the decision of the committee responsible 19/12/01). It should however be added that the Parliament suggests another recommendation designed to improve the standards which would be to allow for packages of less than 24 hours to be incorporated into the scope of the Directive. Moreover, the Parliament urges the Member States to provide some form of goverment-guarantee back-up fund, combined with bonds lodged by the travel operator concerned in support of standards of consumer protection. It insists that consumers should not have to pre-fund their own repatriation in case of organiser or retail insolvency.�