Welcome to the November edition of the GBTA Europe Advocacy Newsletter designed to keep you up to date with what’s happening in relation to business travel in Brussels, and how GBTA is advocating on your behalf.

Click here for the EU jargon buster.

Summary
GBTA Action in the EU

GBTA Meetings This Month

GBTA has been busy meeting with key stakeholders and organisations on your behalf including:

1. Airlines for Europe (A4E) largest EU airline association, on the upcoming EU proposal to enhance multimodal travel (MDMS). A4E expressed concerns from their members on potentially being required to share their content and argued that they already do so through commercial agreements. They also expressed scepticism regarding the presentation of the file during this legislative term, which will end in June 2024. To push the European Commission to present a legislative proposal on the topic as soon as possible, GBTA and the NGO Transport and Environment (T&E) coordinated the signing of a joint letter by more than 70 companies.
2. Ryanair to discuss their new facial recognition policy. They explained that they have implemented it to prevent bookings from illegitimate sources and said they are open to working with corporate buyers. They have been invited to the GBTA + VDR Europe conference in Hamburg.
3. The European Commission to discuss the CountEmissionsEU proposal, that would create a common methodology to calculate transport emissions for all modes of transport.

Next Steps

This engagement continues this week as GBTA leadership will be visiting Brussels between the 8th and 10th of November to engage with a series of stakeholders and European Union officials concerning pivotal issues on the following legislative initiatives; MDMS, the CountEmissionsEU, and the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA). They will hold meetings with the European Commission, the US Mission to the EU, and stakeholders in the fuel and transport sectors.

Other Key Points

1. Transport & Sustainability

>> Multimodal Digital Mobility Services (MDMS) postponed once again

What is new: Following discussions with Members of the European Parliament, it is clear that the long awaited MDMS Regulation is not expected to be presented by the end of the year. The file has already been postponed several times and its timeline is still unclear.

Why it matters: Initially praised as a significant initiative by the Commission to advance sustainable travel options making travel in Europe more efficient and sustainable, the MDMS plan aimed to simplify the process of comparing and booking multimodal trips online. Yet, its development has faced hurdles, with no clear timeline for the presentation of a legislative initiative.

Actions: GBTA,together with the NGO Transport and Environment (T&E) coordinated the signing of a joint letter by more than 70 companies calling on the European Commission to present a legislative proposal on this issue as soon as possible. GBTA also met virtually with A4E, representing EU airlines, to discuss this initiative. GBTA’s leadership will meet with Transport Commissioner Valean’s Cabinet during their visit to Brussels in November and will discuss developments on the initiative.

>> Latest news on the CountEmissionsEU Initiative

What is new: This initiative, presented by the European Commission in July, will provide a common methodology to calculate transport emissions for all modes of transport based on the new standard EN ISO 14083:2023. The proposed regulation still needs to be debated in the European Parliament and by the EU Member States before it becomes law.

Why it matters: CountEmissionsEU can facilitate behavioural change in business travel as passengers will have the necessary data to opt for more sustainable travel options. It will also lead to cost savings in terms of operational costs as CountEmissionsEU establishes a single set of rules. The use of an international ISO standard can help the push for global standardisation.

Actions: GBTA met with the European Commission unit in charge of this file for further clarification on behalf of the business travel community, and is planning to send a letter to MEPs asking them to fast-track the approval of CountEmissionsEU, and educating them on the need for a harmonised counting system, referring to our The State of Climate Action in Business Travel: 2023 Barometer.

>> Net Zero Industry Act updates

What is new: On 25 October 2023, the European Parliament's industry committee supported an amended version of the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA), which calls for the inclusion of nuclear power in the list of net-zero technologies that will receive state support. The Commission's initial proposal aimed to enhance the EU's capacity for manufacturing clean energy technologies by 2030 but excluded nuclear power from a specific set of “strategic net-zero technologies”, that would have received enhanced support. Instead, the proposal featured small modular reactors in a broader list of “net-zero technologies”. The MEPs' approach removes the first list entirely merging it into the second one and allowing for a more flexible categorisation of "net-zero” projects as strategic. Sustainable Alternative Fuels, including Sustainable Aviation Fuels, are included in the merged list.

Why it matters: The merged list includes sustainable alternative fuels. This could help enhance the production of sustainable aviation fuels, needed to make EU aviation more sustainable and for airlines to be able to comply with legislative mandates for gradual SAF take up. A plenary vote on the proposal is scheduled for late November. In the meantime, Member States have not yet agreed on a common position on the Act.

Actions: GBTA will discuss NZIA and a possible incentivisation of Sustainable Aviation Fuel production during its November meetings in Brussels with the Cabinet of Transport Commissioner Valean, the European Commission’s DG Move, the eFuel Alliance, Airlines for Europe, and FuelsEurope. It is also planning to send a letter to MEPs asking them to keep Sustainable Alternative Fuels on the list ahead of the November vote.

2. Other updates

>> Different approaches to reform of passenger rights and Package Travel Directive could undermine objectives

What is new: Travel organisations, including ECTAA (the European Travel Agents' and Tour Operators' Association), have expressed concerns that a lack of political ambition and diverging objectives among European Commission Directorates-General could hinder meaningful reforms of passenger rights and the review of the package travel directive (PTD). The revisions, aimed at addressing the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, are expected to be announced by the European Commission on November 29.

Why it matters: There are worries that different approaches to passenger rights could lead to confusion. Some argue that airlines should have more stringent requirements, while others contend that travel agents and tour operators, represented by ECTAA, should face additional obligations. These concerns have prompted calls for consistency in the upcoming revisions.

Actions: GBTA will discuss passengers’ rights during their upcoming meeting with Commissioner Valean’s Cabinet in November in Brussels.

For more information on GBTA Advocacy efforts read our recent blog “Making sustainable business a reality”