Sharing economy
Balanced deal on platform workers rules reached, leading MEP says
Est. 6minThe European Parliament reached a deal on the platform workers’ directive, pending confirmation by the Employment and Social Affairs Committee on 12 December.
Czech presidency makes new attempt on platform workers directive
Est. 4minThe Czech presidency’s latest compromise text on the platform workers' directive made some additional tweaks in the hope of securing a majority at a new meeting with EU ambassadors on Wednesday (30 November).
Czech presidency pushes for general approach on platform worker directive
Est. 4minThe Czech presidency circulated a new compromise text on the platform workers' directive, hoping it would become the EU Council's negotiating position. Still, uncertainty remains about whether the text will receive the support of the majority.
Czech Presidency hones in on platform workers’ personal data protection
Est. 4minA new, third compromise text from the Czech Presidency of the EU Council on the platform workers' directive further emphasises the importance of algorithmic management and workers' personal data protection.
Uber Files whistleblower wants ambitious EU law for the ‘powerless’
Est. 5minUber Files whistleblower took centre stage and slammed Uber’s “disproportionate” power over EU policy-making at a European Parliament hearing. The European social agenda is a “threat” to Uber, and one the company aims to take down, he added.
Uber’s shadow looms over platform workers directive debates
Est. 5minUber and other platforms are lobbying against an ambitious EU directive on platform workers, Ludovic Voet, confederal secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), writes as Uber Files whistleblower Mark MacGann is due to testify at the European Parliament hearing on Tuesday (25 October).
Centre right divergences continue on platform workers directive
Est. 5minThe centre-right's internal disagreements over a working compromise on the platform workers directive were laid bare at an event on Wednesday (19 October), where a former Uber driver interrupted the event to criticise the platforms’ lobbying methods.
Eight EU countries push back against stricter conditions for platform workers’ status
Est. 3minIn a letter to the EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, nine European ministers have called for “an effective and strong, but rebuttable, legal presumption” as part of negotiations on the platform workers directive.
Czech Presidency raises legal presumption threshold for platform workers
Est. 5minThe Czech Presidency proposed raising the threshold to trigger the presumption of employment for platform workers in a new compromise text dated Monday (10 October), seen by EURACTIV.
Conservative MEPs still divided on platform worker status
Est. 4minDisagreements remain fierce within the centre right European People’s Party (EPP) over the platform workers’ directive. There are rumours EPP MEPs want to reopen negotiations over the legal presumption of employment and the rebuttal of the presumption.
Stark split emerges within European People’s Party over worker status
Est. 5minMembers of the European People's Party (EPP) can’t seem to agree on a shared way forward over the platform workers' directive. As the EPP shadow rapporteur, Dennis Radtke, is deemed too close to the centre-left, frustrations are mounting.
EU institutions inch closer to an agreement on platform worker status
Est. 4minMEPs seem to be approaching a possible compromise on the legal presumption of employment in the platform worker directive, while a broad agreement is starting to emerge in the EU Council.
MEPs scratch the surface on platform workers status
Est. 4minNew compromise amendments, seen by EURACTIV, show MEPs veering towards a broad-scoped legal presumption of employment. Negotiations remain “very sensitive” and “a compromise is far from being found," according to sources.
How France lobbied against Commission’s proposal on platform workers’ rights
Est. 5minFrance heavily lobbied the European Commission over the rights of platform workers, favouring the position of platforms and raising more concerns of collusion between French decision makers and industry lobbyists, according to documents obtained by EURACTIV.
The sharing economy: Cure or curse?
Est. 7minFrom 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
Est. 2minThe 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’
Est. 8minFollowing 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
Est. 3minFrance 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
Est. 6minAfter 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
Est. 5minEU 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
Est. 8minEU 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
Est. 3minEU 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
Est. 6minIn 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
Est. 6minSupporters of a controversial new push to tax tech giants insist they will overcome fierce opposition from a group of around 10 member states.