Ryanair wins long legal battle with French authorities
Ryanair is demanding a repayment of €15 million from the French authorities after the European Court of Justice ruled they were wrong to charge the airline social insurance contributions for pilots and cabin crew based in Marseille.
The court stated in its ruling in the ‘A Rosa’ case that the social insurance status of an international transport worker must be accepted by all other EU states.
Ryanair said the ruling confirmed that the French Social Insurance authorities had acted unlawfully over the past 10 years by double charging Ryanair and its staff, who were temporarily based in Marseille but had already paid social insurance contributions in Ireland.
"We welcome this ruling in the "A Rosa" case which upholds the existing EU rules on social insurance payments for international transport workers, and exposes the unlawful attempt by the French (and to a lesser extent the Italian) Authorities, to threaten and blackmail Ryanair for the double payment of social insurance in the case of pilots and cabin crew who have already paid their social insurance contributions in Ireland, in full compliance with EU rules," said Ryanair chief people officer Eddie Wilson.
"Ryanair will now be pursuing a full refund of €15m (plus interest) from the French Authorities who have repeatedly and unlawfully pursued Ryanair, its pilots and cabin crew in Marseille, by ignoring EU regulations, and the validly issued Irish A1 certificates."
Ryanair said it had paid €10 million double taxes to the French authorities between 2006 to 2010 following French court rulings. It was ordered to pay a further €5 million for workers who operated temporary summer schedules from Marseille between 2011 and 2014.
The airline is also being pursued by Italian authorities for several outstanding claims for social insurance payments from 2006 to 2011. "Ryanair’s lawyers will be writing to the Italian authorities to withdraw these claims as they now have no prospect of success given the clear ruling of the European Courts," it said.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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