A majority of European Union member states reached an agreement on Thursday to fast-track a long-stalled overhaul of air passenger rights.

The decision was made at a Council summit in Luxembourg, where smaller countries appeared to be swayed by last-minute negotiations, countering the opposition from larger nations like Germany and Spain.

Currently, passengers delayed by more than three hours are entitled to compensation ranging from €250 to €600, a ruling supported by the EU's judiciary.

The new agreement, however, would raise the delay thresholds and cut compensation amounts, significantly impacting consumer rights.

Under the proposed changes, compensation would only be guaranteed for flights of less than 3,500 kilometers that are delayed by at least four hours.

For longer flights, airlines would only be liable for compensation if a delay exceeds six hours, thereby restricting eligibility compared to the previous three-hour limitation.

Consumer rights group BEUC expressed strong concerns over these changes, stating that the new thresholds would effectively reduce the number of passengers entitled to compensation, as most delays typically fall between two and four hours.

In exchange for the elevated delay thresholds, airlines will be obligated to streamline the compensation process, but the specifics of these adjustments remain to be clarified.

Inclusion of these changes garnered support from countries representing over 65% of the EU population, enabling the proposal to proceed despite the substantial opposition from Germany, Spain, Slovenia, and Portugal.

Hungary, initially part of the pro-consumer coalition, reportedly shifted its stance in return for an agreement from the European Commission to evaluate the revised rules' real-world implications.

Austria chose to abstain from the vote.

The Council's decision has drawn ire from the European Parliament, which has characterized the move as an attempt to bypass its usual role in such legislative processes.

The decision marks an unprecedented instance in which EU countries have adopted a legally binding position without formal discussions with the Parliament, leading to fears of a detrimental impact on trust between the two institutions.

The European Parliament now has four months to formulate a counter-position, which must receive backing from a majority of its members.

Jens Gieseke, representing the European People's Party on transport issues, criticized the Council’s approach, implying it jeopardizes the collaborative spirit traditionally maintained between EU lawmakers and governments.

Liberal MEP Jan-Christoph Oetjen condemned the tactic as unacceptable, suggesting governments are obstructing parliamentary engagement in the legislative process.

Historically, the topic of air passenger rights has seen significant contention within the EU. The Parliament previously sought to enshrine the three-hour delay threshold in EU law back in 2014, but negotiations around the bill stagnated, highlighting persistent disagreements over consumer rights and airline obligations within the bloc.