Apostolos Tzitzikostas was President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) from 2020 to 2022 and First Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) since 2022. He is now the European Commissioner-designate for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, in the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, Commissioner-designate, Sustainable Transport and Tourism

EP Plenary Session - July 2026 - Evaluation of the Common Fisheries policy

EP Plenary Session - July 2026 - Air passenger rights

Press conference on Air Passenger Rights

EP Plenary Session - Need for an adaptation of the EU legal framework on sustainable biofuels

TRAN - Structured dialogue - Presentation by Commissioner Tzitzikostas

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism

EP Plenary session - Rail transport safety in the EU – lessons learnt from the Adamuz accident and three years after the Tempi tragedy

TRAN - Exchange of views with Commissioner Apostolas Tzitzikostas on recently published reports and plans: Annual progress report on simplification, implementation and enforcement, High-speed rail plan, Sustainable transport investment plan

This News item shows extracts from the debate (6/07) and vote in plenary (7/07) on Air Passenger Rights. MEPs adopt updated rules to strengthen air passenger rights, ensuring compensation for delays over three hours, reimbursement or re-routing for cancellations, and fee-free child seating. Parliament negotiators resist weakening passenger protections, securing key rights. The rules, unchanged since 2004, now include faster reimbursement and family seating guarantees. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery

Air Passenger Rights: extracts from the debate (6/07) and vote in plenary (7/07)

Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG), rapporteur and Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, open the debate on Air Passenger Rights. MEPs adopt updated rules to strengthen air passenger rights, ensuring compensation for delays over three hours, reimbursement or re-routing for cancellations, and fee-free child seating. The rules, unchanged since 2004, now include faster reimbursement and family seating guarantees. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Air Passenger Rights: opening statements by Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG), rapporteur and Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Alexis VAFEADAS, Cyprus's Minister of Transport, Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG), rapporteur and Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS (Greens/EFA, LT), vice-chair of TRAN Committee, hold a press conference on Air passenger rights. In January 2026, Parliament adopted its position on revising EU air passenger rights, aiming to maintain reimbursement, re-routing, and compensation for delays, cancellations, or denied boarding. However, EU ministers rejected these proposals in March 2026, prompting the Conciliation Committee to negotiate a compromise over eight weeks. On the 15th of June evening, a provisional agreement on a review of air passenger rights rules reached by Parliament and Council negotiators secured unanimous backing from the EP delegation to the so-called Conciliation Committee. The rules had not been updated since 2004.

Press conference: Air passenger rights by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Alexis VAFEADAS, Cyprus's Minister of Transport, Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, European Commissioner, Andrey NOVAKOV, rapporteur and Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, vice-chair TRAN Committee

European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS closes the debate on the Union’s preparedness and response for health emergencies: the case of the MV Hondius and the hantavirus warning. MEPs and the Commission will assess EU preparedness for health emergencies, in the wake of the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak. On 2 May, the Commission was notified, through the EU early warning and response system, of a cluster of people experiencing severe respiratory illness on the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged wildlife expedition ship. Onboard were passengers and crew from 23 countries, including from nine EU and European Economic Area countries. On 11 May, the EU’s health security committee issued its opinion on the management of and response to the Andes hantavirus outbreak, including the coordination activities undertaken and recommendations for the management of passengers after their repatriation.

The Union’s preparedness and response for health emergencies: the case of the MV Hondius and the hantavirus warning: closing statements by Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism

European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS opens the debate on the Union’s preparedness and response for health emergencies: the case of the MV Hondius and the hantavirus warning. MEPs and the Commission will assess EU preparedness for health emergencies, in the wake of the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak. On 2 May, the Commission was notified, through the EU early warning and response system, of a cluster of people experiencing severe respiratory illness on the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged wildlife expedition ship. Onboard were passengers and crew from 23 countries, including from nine EU and European Economic Area countries. On 11 May, the EU’s health security committee issued its opinion on the management of and response to the Andes hantavirus outbreak, including the coordination activities undertaken and recommendations for the management of passengers after their repatriation.

The Union’s preparedness and response for health emergencies: the case of the MV Hondius and the hantavirus warning: opening statements by Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism

This news item shows extracts from the debate between MEPs and the Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas on the EU preparedness for health emergencies, in the wake of the MV Hondius hantavirus cases. On 2 May, the Commission was notified, through the EU early warning and response system, of a cluster of people experiencing severe respiratory illness on the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged wildlife expedition ship. Through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, the European Commission has been supporting Spain following its request for assistance related to the hantavirus cases aboard the MV Hondius. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre has worked closely with the Spanish authorities, and the EU Members States to facilitate the safe evacuation and transport of affected EU citizens. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

The Union’s preparedness and response for health emergencies: the case of the MV Hondius and the hantavirus warning: extracts from the debate

Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, and Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG), Rapporteur, close the debate on Air Passenger Rights, an update to the rights of air travellers facing flight disruptions, to ensure compensation after a three-hour delay. In 2014, Parliament reacted to a Commission proposal to update air passenger rights, proposing that delayed or stranded air passengers should receive better access to compensation, with clearer rules about how airlines should deal with passenger complaints. Differing positions among EU countries blocked this file for 11 years. In June 2025, however, EU ministers reached a political agreement. Subsequent negotiations with Parliament started in October 2025, but did not end in agreement, forcing Parliament to proceed with the adoption of its second reading position.

Air Passenger Rights: closing statements by Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, and Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG), Rapporteur

Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG), Rapporteur and Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism open the debate on Air Passenger Rights, an update to the rights of air travellers facing flight disruptions, to ensure compensation after a three-hour delay. In 2014, Parliament reacted to a Commission proposal to update air passenger rights, proposing that delayed or stranded air passengers should receive better access to compensation, with clearer rules about how airlines should deal with passenger complaints. Differing positions among EU countries blocked this file for 11 years. In June 2025, however, EU ministers reached a political agreement. Subsequent negotiations with Parliament started in October 2025, but did not end in agreement, forcing Parliament to proceed with the adoption of its second reading position. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Air Passenger Rights: opening statements by Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG), Rapporteur and Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism

TZITZIKÓSTAS, Apóstolos (EL, EC)

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