EEA Joint Committee incorporates directives on package travel and copyright management into the EEA Agreement

Published 22-09-2017
The Ambassador of Liechtenstein to Belgium and Head of the Mission of Liechtenstein to the European Union, Sabine Momauni, chaired the 215th EEA Joint Committee meeting.
The EEA Joint Committee adopted 41 decisions incorporating 90 legal acts into the EEA Agreement during its meeting on 22 September 2017. The acts included directives on copyright management and package travel.
The Directive on Collective Rights Management enables rightsholders  to be remunerated for use of their works that they would not be in a position to control or enforce themselves, including in non-domestic markets. 
 
The Committee also adopted the Package Travel Directive, which lays down a number of important consumer rights in relation to package travel, in particular with regard to information requirements and the liability of traders in relation to the performance of a package. 
 
In 2014 the EEA EFTA States issued a comment on the Package Travel Directive, in which they noted that there was a special need for harmonised regulation in the travel industry in order to establish a level playing field for businesses. 
 
In both directives new digital technologies are opening up great opportunities for creators, consumers and businesses. Increased demand for online access to cultural content and travel arrangements does not recognise borders or national restrictions, nor do the online services used to access or book them. 
 
This is where collecting societies come into play (particularly in the music sector), which collectively manage the licensing of copyright-protected music for online use on behalf of composers and text-writers, collecting and redistributing the corresponding royalties. 
 
Furthermore, the new Package Travel Directive offers consumers extended protection in comparison with previous legislation, beyond traditional package holidays organised by tour operators. It also offers clear protection to 120 million consumers who book other forms of combined travel, e.g. a combination of flight plus hotel or car rental put together on a website. Such combinations will be protected as package, in particular where the travel services are advertised as a package, are booked within the same booking process or are offered or charged at a total or inclusive price.
 
The Ambassador of Liechtenstein to Belgium and Head of the Mission of Liechtenstein to the European Union, Sabine Momauni, chaired the EEA Joint Committee meeting. 
 
The EEA Joint Committee is responsible for the management of the EEA Agreement and typically meets six to eight times a year. It is a forum in which views are exchanged and decisions are taken by consensus to incorporate EU legislation into the EEA Agreement.
 
List of EEA Joint Committee Decisions adopted so far in 2017.
 

 

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