Sharing economy

The sharing economy: Cure or curse?

From mobility services to recycling applications, the sharing economy holds many promises. Whether to regulate it at European level remains a disputed question, however.

Commission says Airbnb breaches EU consumer rules, must fall into line

The European Union told Airbnb yesterday (16 July) to bring its terms and conditions into line with the bloc's consumer rules or face action by national consumer agencies, after a review of the short-term rental platform found some violations.

Uber’s European chief: ‘Resetting the moral compass is part of our change’

Following a difficult year that brought a new CEO at the helm, Uber is serious about listening to its drivers and policymakers, Pierre Dimitri Gore-Coty told EURACTIV. Now the company aims at becoming a multimodal mobility platform, integrating bike sharing services or public transports.

Uber loses EU court case against French criminal charges

France is entitled to bring criminal proceedings against local managers of ride-hailing app Uber for running an illegal taxi service, the EU top court ruled on Tuesday, dealing the Silicon Valley start-up another legal setback.

New EU tax on tech giants’ revenue is not ‘anti-US’, Moscovici insists

After half a year of intense debate and bickering between member states, the European Commission proposed on Wednesday (21 March) a new system for taxing digital companies that will charge large firms 3% of their revenue and will hit US tech giants like Google and Facebook.

Uber needs prior authorisations to operate, EU court says

EU judges ruled on Wednesday that Uber is a transport service, rather than a digital app, and therefore requires national authorities’ authorisation to operate in Europe.

Top EU privacy watchdog wants centralised regulator with muscle to police firms

EU lawmakers should create a new, centralised data protection authority to oversee investigations of privacy breaches that affect more than member state in the bloc, Giovanni Buttarelli, the EU’s top privacy watchdog, said in an interview.

Seven EU countries team up to investigate Uber data breach

EU privacy watchdogs are uniting to confront Uber over the breach of millions of consumers’ data that the ride-hailing app recently reported.

Innovation’s day in court

In Europe, innovative companies are often taken to court when their business model does not meet the established patterns, and this may prevent the EU from becoming a large common market for digital services, argues Žiga Turk.

Tax fight draws divisions at EU digital summit

Supporters of a controversial new push to tax tech giants insist they will overcome fierce opposition from a group of around 10 member states.

Estonia confident politics won’t overshadow Tallinn ‘digital summit’

Estonia is hosting a summit focused on technology issues this Friday (29 September) but will have to battle for EU leaders’ attention less than one week after the German election, a fresh round of Brexit talks and French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposals on the future of Europe.

Bieńkowska: ‘What we want from Volkswagen is a different approach’

The car sector is keeping EU Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska busy. In an exclusive interview with EURACTIV, the Polish official spoke frankly about carmaker responsibility following the Dieselgate scandal, how to deal with Uber and how Brussels-Warsaw relations might not improve.

Innovation fuels Europe’s leadership on shared mobility

European cities are stepping up their efforts on shared mobility to reduce traffic jams and pollution while generating the most profitable business in this field on the planet.

Estonian minister: The digital economy needs more social Europe

There needs to be an EU-wide solution to precarious app economy jobs, said Estonian Labour and Health Minister Jevgeni Ossinovski in an interview with EURACTIV.com.

EU Court’s top lawyer says member states have right to ban Uber

EU member states can ban ride-hailing pioneer Uber without informing the European Commission because at heart it is an ordinary transport company under their jurisdiction, a top EU lawyer said Tuesday.

Does car sharing really reduce car use?

Concerns that sharing schemes do not deliver a net reduction in car use are not supported by evidence, writes Greg Archer. Now, digitisation and the sharing economy provide an opportunity to reduce the number of vehicles in our cities even further, he contends.

Czech cities against Uber, but European court has the last word

It is not easy to be an Uber driver in the Czech Republic. The capital, Prague, has fined them and the second city Brno is now an Uber-free zone. Although public opinion is broadly positive, the EU courts are probably Uber’s last hope.

MEPs demand EU strategy to protect gig economy workers

The European Parliament is expected to adopt a draft report on Thursday (15 June) calling on EU and national authorities to ensure “fair working conditions and adequate legal and social protection for all workers” in the collaborative economy.

Darknet guru: New technology can help build European identity

Modern technology could shore up the European project, boost transparency and help governments collect taxes. Author Jamie Bartlett told EURACTIV.com that the EU should become the great technological innovator but warned that politicians simply aren’t prepared for massive changes ahead.

European court may force Uber out of Europe

A key decision awaits the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Will the Court’s judges side with the opponents of sharing services such as Uber, or will they instead support their further development? EURACTIV Czech Republic’s partner Aktuálně reports.

EU court’s opinion challenges Commission’s pro-Uber stance

An opinion issued today (11 May) by the EU Court of Justice's advocate general said that Uber cannot benefit from lax rules under the service directive, seen by the European Commission as the legal basis for the collaborative economy.

Estonia to lead debate on the future of social systems in the digital era

The upcoming rotating presidency of the EU will focus on the future of work and the role technology can play in transforming social systems in the context of the new industrial revolution.

Taxi industry launches alliance to compete with Uber

MEPs and stakeholders yesterday (26 April) launched an organisation aiming to protect the rights of taxi drivers and improve competition against “social platforms” like US ride-hailing service Uber.

App economy jobs come under Commission scrutiny

The European Commission will change an EU law on employment contracts by the end of the year in a move to create standards for precarious jobs created by online apps like Uber and Deliveroo.