ECTAA welcomed a comprehensive action plan which is being proposed by European Commission to develop an effective consular protection for EU citizens travelling in third countries where their Member State is not represented.

Few citizens know that when they are travelling to a third country in which their Member State does not have an embassy or a consular post, they are entitled to consular protection by the authorities of any Member State represented on the spot, on the same conditions of the nationals of that State. Including information on this basic right into the passport, as recommended in the Commission’s action plan, is very useful

ECTAA is also very much in favour of the Commission’s intention to further develop other information tools for citizens, in particular by setting up a website in 2008, which will contain information on consular protection, an up-to-date list of the Member States’ embassies and consulates in third countries as well as links to Member States’ travel advice notices. ECTAA also welcomes the fact that the European Commission intends to examine the possibility of providing telephone information on consular protection issues.

ECTAA’s President Jan Van Steen said: “The number of our customers who travel abroad, whether for business or leisure purposes, is increasing every year. Therefore, it is important that they know exactly what kind of protection they can obtain and from where to obtain it. The various measures foreseen by the Commission will also help travel agents and tour operators to better assist their overseas customers in situations of distress.”

Yet, ECTAA regrets that the action plan does not foresee a specific action on Member States’ travel advices, as recently recommended by the European Parliament in its report. This would be very welcome to help Member States issue clear and unambiguous travel advices.