Multimodal booking

Background

This EESC opinion assesses the proposal on Multimodal booking which was unveiled by the European Commission in May 2026. This proposal, together with a proposal on Rail ticketing and on Protection of passengers with single tickets, is part of the so-called Passenger Package. The package seeks to make it easier for passengers to find, compare and book journeys involving multiple operators and different modes of transport, while strengthening passenger protection for rail journeys booked as a single transaction.

The proposal includes the Multimodal Digital Mobility Services (MDMS) initiative, which aims to support the development of multimodal ticketing services within and across passenger transport modes. The goal is to significantly improve multimodality, inclusiveness and sustainability in the EU, within Member States and across borders.

MDMS are online platforms that enable users to combine different transport modes when planning, booking and paying for journeys. They are intended to improve convenience, expand journey options and increase cost efficiency, while supporting more sustainable and better integrated mobility across Europe. Currently, MDMS are deployed in a fragmented manner, with insufficient legal and market frameworks to support their development and the provision of a comprehensive range of services.

Key points

The EESC:

• welcomes the proposed regulation as a useful step towards improving transparency and competitiveness in the EU ticket distribution market, notably through neutral presentation of search results, limits on paid placement, obligations for platforms with significant market presence and the prohibition of anti-competitive contractual clauses; 
• considers, however, that the proposal does not address the key problem of the very limited availability of multimodal journeys purchasable through a single ticket, and calls for more far-reaching measures to ensure effective multimodal booking; 
• calls for equal application of data access, non-discrimination and FRAND (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory) requirements across all transport modes, for stronger interoperability through harmonised technical standards, and for clearer information for passengers on rights, responsibilities and points of contact in the event of disruption;
• stresses that implementation must remain proportionate and inclusive, with coordination with existing digital rules, continued physical access to ticketing services and adequate investment in cross-border transport infrastructure.

Additional information

Section: Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN)

Opinion number: TEN/861

Opinion type: Mandatory

Rapporteur: Mateusz Szymański (Group II - Poland)

Date of adoption by section: 4 September 2026

Result of the vote: 82 in favour, 0 against, 0 abstentions

Date of adoption in plenary: 23-24 September 2026

Result of the vote: XXX in favour, X against, X abstentions

Contact

Marco Pezzani

Press Officer

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E-mail: marco.pezzani@eesc.europa.eu 

Konstantina Angelopoulou

Administrator

Tel.: +32 546 9747

E-mail:  konstantina.angelopoulou@eesc.europa.eu