Press Release: Insurance: Commission welcomes adoption of new rules to protect visiting motorists

The European Commission has welcomed the formal adoption by the European Parliament on May 15 of new rules designed to ensure EU visiting motorists get rapid compensation in case of accident. The EU's Council of Ministers has already approved the measure under the co-decision procedure. Every year, there are more than 500,000 car accidents involving vehicles from different Member States, but the current system of compensation for people involved in an accident outside their home country does not work satisfactorily. The new rules, known as the Fourth Motor Insurance Directive, provide for improved information, easier procedures and quicker settlement of claims (fines will be charged on late payments). The legislation will apply not only when the accident takes place in EU Member States, but also when the accident occurs between two EU parties in a country outside the Union which belongs to the Green Card system. At present, this system covers some 40 countries.

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