By Sebastijan R. Maček | STA 02-06-2021 The cache of 124,000 documents leaked to the Guardian reveals that former Chancellor George Osborne was a key figure in granting Uber a license in the UK. At the same time, private meetings were also held with Tory leadership hopefuls Sajid Javid and Priti Patel, many of them undeclared by the then-ministers. However, a document states that Johnson was “the ultimate target”. [Shutterstcok/MOZCO Mateusz Szymanski] Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Print Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram The Slovenian parliament passed on Tuesday legislative amendments that will allow ride-hailing platforms such as Uber or Lyft to operate in the country. Drivers using digital platforms will now be required to get a special licence, just like regular taxi drivers, but there is no requirement to hire drivers full time. Municipalities will have a say in setting the ground rules since they can determine the minimum quality standard, including the type of vehicle. Taxi drivers have fought the changes tooth-and-nail, claiming that the arrival of tech giants, who they said would siphon away the profits, will jeopardise their livelihoods. However, government officials retorted, saying this will give drivers more income opportunities and a wider choice of what company to work for. Overall, the government sees the legislation as a way of accelerating digitalisation in the sector, improving the quality of service for customers, and creating new jobs. The Slovenian taxi market is notorious for its patchy quality of service. The majority of drivers are freelance and work for a handful of companies that own dispatch infrastructure. (Sebastijan R. Maček | STA) Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters
