In a written answer on 25 June 2026, European Commissioner for Transport Apostolos Tzitzikostas told MEPs that the European Commission cannot issue general instructions to airlines on how to describe territorial sovereignty in commercial communications, but reminded carriers that EU consumer-protection law prohibits misleading advertising about a territory's status. The answer responds to a parliamentary question filed on 27 March 2026 by 14 MEPs from The Left, Greens/EFA, S&D, and Renew groups, led by Lynn Boylan (The Left), concerning Ryanair's advertising of routes to Dakhla in Western Sahara as part of a 'Moroccan adventure'.
The Commissioner reiterated the Commission's earlier position, first stated in reply to question E-002585/2024, that the Euro-Mediterranean aviation agreement between the EU and Morocco does not apply to Western Sahara, meaning carriers are not bound by its provisions for routes to the territory. He noted that EU-established airlines must comply with Directives 2005/29/EC and 2006/114/EC, which prohibit misleading actions or omissions that could affect a consumer's transactional decision. Presenting a destination in a way that misleads consumers about a territory's status may raise issues under those rules.
However, Tzitzikostas stressed that enforcement of consumer-protection law in individual cases is primarily the responsibility of national authorities and courts in Member States, and the Commission cannot order a specific company to cease a given practice. The Commission will continue to monitor the correct application of EU consumer-protection law in the aviation sector.
The answer provides no concrete new measures or deadlines, instead reaffirming existing legal frameworks and the division of enforcement responsibilities between EU and national levels. The policy orientation is one of caution: the Commission signals it will not intervene directly in individual advertising disputes but expects national authorities to act if misleading practices occur. Institutional follow-up is limited to monitoring, with no indication of new guidance or legislative proposals. The answer leaves the burden of enforcement on Member States and affected consumers.