The results of the 2016 screening of travel comparison and booking websites

41. Calls on the Commission to investigate the market dominance of Google in the market for direct hotel bookings; points out that the company is seeking to have hotel searchers book and pay via Google rather than a third-party travel or hotel site; underlines that this move is potentially controversial as it turns Google into an online travel agency, or its equivalent, charging booking fees; notes that most hoteliers would prefer direct bookings rather than through a third-party site or aggregator; underlines that Google could leverage its dominant position and, by the same token, weaken competitors in travel markets, and thereby ha ...[+++]rm consumers;

14. Highlights the importance of improving accessibility to cultural heritage sites and cultural education, taking into account, in particular, the specific needs of people with disabilities when constructing, renovating or extending tourist attractions; notes that, in this context, innovative projects, tools and products to facilitate autonomous access for persons with impaired mobility should be promoted at European level; bears in mind that information and booking technologies should be easily accessible for those persons; underlines the enormous progress made thanks to the application and use of new digital technologies for giving ...[+++] universal access to paintings, buildings, and cultural sites; suggests to the Commission and the Member States that they examine different possibilities of launching projects and funds to enable the younger population and – in the context of demographic change – older persons, as well as people with special needs, low-income families and other vulnerable citizens, to visit the Member States’ cultural destinations;

Online linked travel arrangements should also be distinguished from linked websites which do not have the objective of concluding a contract with the traveller and from links through which travellers are simply informed about further travel services in a general fashion and not in a targeted manner, for instance where a hotel or an organiser of an event includes on its website a list of all operators offering transport services to its location independently of any booking or if cookies or metadata are used to place advertisements on websites related to the travel destination or travel period specified for the first travel service chosen ...[+++].

Online linked travel arrangements should also be distinguished from linked websites which do not have the objective of concluding a contract with the traveller and from links through which travellers are simply informed about further travel services in a general fashion and not in a targeted manner, for instance where a hotel or an organiser of an event includes on its website a list of all operators offering transport services to its location independently of any booking or if cookies or meta data are used to place advertisements on websites related to the travel destination or travel period specified for the first travel service chosen ...[+++].

7. Notes that urgent attention must be paid to the open, illegal dumping of mixed and unidentified waste near the Ferandelle site, and calls for the enforcement of strict management controls; reminds the competent authorities that, in order to comply fully with the IED/IPPC Directive (Directive 2010/75/EU), they must establish strict controls on the handling of specific types of industrial waste, regardless of their origin; points out, further, that specially designated sites must be established which are consistent with the provisions of the relevant EU directives, thereby ensuring that an appropriate infrastructure for industrial, sp ...[+++]ecial and toxic waste is developed; requests an explanation for the failure to use the site planned for the reception of organic waste and calls for it to be put into operation, provided it fulfils the criteria laid down in the Waste Management Directive; calls for the monitoring of unlicensed, privately run landfills and appropriate action to ensure compliance with EU rules;