WIREDGOV

Transport MEPs voted against new flight time limitation measures on Monday. MEPs rejected the adaptation of current rules on on-duty and rest times for pilots and cabin crew and asked the European Commission to come up with another proposal as a matter of urgency. The rejection by the transport committee will now go to the full House for a vote in plenary.

The transport committee resolution, which was adopted by 21 votes in favour and 13 against, says that a new proposal must "respect the principle of proportionality". It "emphasises that the Flight Time Regulations are important political questions which should be addressed at an early stage during the preparation of legislative co-decision reports".

Under the so-called comitology procedure, the European Parliament has the right of scrutiny of Commission implementing measures on flight time and may oppose such measures but cannot change them.

Next steps

The full house of the European Parliament has until 25 October to decide by an absolute majority whether it will follow the transport committee and oppose the draft measures. If so, the current rules on flight time limitations will stand. The plenary date for the vote is yet to be confirmed.