Car-sharing services in Europe

30.11.2016

Question for written answer E-008928-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Victor Negrescu (S&D)

There have been several protests in Europe by traditional taxi service providers against car-sharing applications (such as Lyft, Uber, Getaround, Sidecar and others) arguing that car-sharing drivers do not pay taxi licences and other taxes required by taxis to function, and are thus breaking local transport laws. These protests have sometimes erupted into violence against car-sharing users and have even resulted in fines being issued to car-sharing drivers by the local authorities or courts due to the lack of legislation in this area.

Does the Commission intend to propose an initiative to harmonise the EU Member States’ legislation regarding car-sharing services and to shed further light on the matter by clarifying its guideline stating that service providers should only be required to obtain licences ‘where strictly necessary to meet relevant public interest objections’?