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Timeshare Consumers Association

First European Timeshare Directive

Implementation of the first Timeshare Directive throughout Europe

Note that this Directive was replaced on 23rd February 2011 - see here


"Implemented" - Date the national timeshare law was implemented
"Cool-off" - The number of calendar days in the cooling-off period
"Deposit?" - Whether or not a deposit is allowed, or to a third party
"EEA" - Country in  the European Economic Area
"EU" - Country in the European Union (or possibly joining)
COUNTRY
IMPLEMENTED
COOL-OFF
DEPOSIT ?
EEA
EU
Austria 1 April 1997 14 Days Third Party Yes Yes
Balearics 5 January 1999 10 Days NO Yes Yes
Belgium 5 January 1999 15 Days NO Yes Yes
Belarus . . . No No
Bulgaria 1 January 2007 10 Days . No Yes
Canary Islands (Spain)  See Spain 
Cyprus (South) July 2001 15 Days NO (incl Holiday Clubs) Yes Yes
Czech Republic . . . Yes Yes
Denmark 15 April 1997 10 Days Third Party Yes Yes
Estonia . . . Yes Yes
Finland 1 March 1998 10 Days NO Yes Yes
France 9 July 1998 10 Days NO Yes Yes
Germany 1 January 1997 15 Days Third Party Yes Yes
Gibraltar (as UK) 29 April 1997 14 Days No Yes Yes
Greece 25 August 1999 10 Days NO Yes Yes
Hungary August 1999 10 Days NO Yes Yes
Iceland . . . Yes No
Ireland 19 May 1997 10 Days Third Party Yes Yes
Israel June 1998 14 Days YES No No
Italy 12 February 1999 10 Days Third Party Yes Yes
Latvia . . . Yes Yes
Liechenstein . . . Yes No
Lithuania . . . Yes Yes
Luxembourg 26 January 1999 10 Days NO Yes Yes
Malta 1 December 2001 10 Days NO Yes Yes
Netherlands 25 June 1997 10 Days NO Yes Yes
Norway 13 June 1997 10 Days Third Party Yes No
Poland . . . Yes Yes
Portugal 22 May 1999 10 Days NO Yes Yes
Slovak Republic . . . Yes Yes
Slovenia . . . Yes Yes
Romania 1 January 2007 10 Days . No Yes
Slovenia . . . Yes Yes
Spain (incl Canaries) 7 January 1999 10 Days Third party Yes Yes
Sweden 2 July 1997 10 Days Third Party Yes Yes
Switzerland . . . No No
Turkey . . . No Hope to join
United Kingdom 29 April 1997 14 Days NO Yes Yes
January 2007