Government sets out its positions on EU Passenger Package

On 9 July 2026, the Government submitted a Union communication to Parliament concerning the European Commission’s proposals for a Passenger Package. Finland takes a largely positive view of the proposals included in the package.

The Commission presented the Passenger Package on 13 May 2026.  The package includes proposals on rail ticketing, passenger rights and multimodal bookings. Its aim is to make it easier to plan and book long-distance and cross-border rail journeys, particularly where journeys involve several transport operators. The proposals would also strengthen passenger rights.

Finland supports the objectives of the Commission’s proposals

The Government views the objectives of the Passenger Package positively. The proposals could make travel easier, improve passenger rights and promote a more level playing field among service providers. At the same time, the Government considers it important that the regulation remains proportionate and does not impose an unreasonable administrative burden on businesses or public authorities.

As regards the proposals on rail ticketing and passenger rights, the Government believes that the impacts of the obligations relating to single tickets, particularly on regional and local rail services, should be assessed further during negotiations on the package. It is important to ensure that the necessary national exemptions can continue to apply to local rail services. The Government considers it appropriate that railway undertakings with significant market power should be subject to more extensive obligations than other operators to provide access to their ticketing channels. This could improve price transparency and make it easier for new operators to enter the market.

The Government supports the objectives of the proposed regulation on multimodal booking services. It is appropriate that small and medium-sized service providers, which make up most Finnish providers, would remain outside the scope of the proposed obligations. However, the scope and definitions of the proposal should be clarified during the negotiations. It is also important to ensure that the obligations imposed by the regulation are necessary, proportionate and fair in relation to the benefits sought.

Commission proposals would simplify multi-operator journeys and strengthen passenger rights

The proposed Regulation on rail ticketing aims to simplify rail travel, particularly for cross-border journeys and journeys involving multiple railway operators. Under the proposal, railway undertakings would have to make their tickets available for sale in a way that allows them to be combined with products from different railway operators into a single ticket. In addition, railway undertakings with significant market power would have to open their ticketing channels to other operators.

The proposed Regulation on passenger rights aims to ensure a high and consistent level of passenger protection. Under the proposal, passengers would more often benefit from passenger rights protection, even where a journey includes services operated by several railway undertakings. The regulation would define the rights associated with a single ticket, including the right to reimbursement, rerouting, compensation and assistance in the event of disruptions.

The proposed Regulation on multimodal booking aims to improve ticket availability and promote a level playing field in the digital passenger transport ticketing market. The regulation would lay down rules on matters such as the conditions governing commercial agreements between transport operators and providers of multimodal digital mobility services (MDMS), as well as the display of search results on MDMS. MDMS refers to a service that brings together transport and passenger information and either enables users to book journeys or directs them to a ticket sales service.

What’s next?

The Union communication will next be debated in Parliament. The European Commission has presented the Passenger Package to the Council working party, and negotiations will begin in July. At EU level, the Member States and the European Parliament will formulate their positions on the Commission’s proposals.

Inquiries:

Ministry of Transport and Communications:
Eveliina Hernesniemi, Senior Officer, tel. +358 295 342 028, [email protected] (available 9–10 July 2026)

Noora Lähde, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 342 241, [email protected] (available 14–24 July 2026)

Ministry of Justice:
Johanna Isoaho, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 150 297, [email protected] (passenger rights)