EU wants uniform rules for ride-hailing services

Commission to present plan later this year to harmonise regulations

Life

This year, the European Commission plans to scrutinize the rules for ride-hailing such as Uber and Bolt. This is part of a broader strategy for the internal market. Rules currently vary by EU country, for example, licences, waiting times and requirements for vehicles vary widely.

These differences create tensions between traditional cabs and ride-share drivers in many cities, leading to accusations of unfair competition.

Transportation is a shared responsibility of EU member states and the Commission. Therefore, harmonising the rules is difficult. Petra Söderqvist, from the office of the Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, said there will be a political discussion within the Commission this year to explore possible solutions.

Details and concrete measures are expected to be presented in 2025. During the launch of the Shared Mobility Europe coalition, ride-share companies pointed out the major differences in regulations across Europe. For example, Italy has mandatory waiting times for picking up passengers and Spain has stricter requirements for vehicle length. They therefore advocate a more uniform approach.

Eduardo Martín Gómez de Villalba, president of MOVEA (an advocacy organisation for drivers), acknowledged that ride-hailing promotes sustainable transport and better mobility. At the same time, he called for binding rules to address current problems. Söderqvist warned that major changes cannot be expected immediately, and stressed the sensitivity around legal powers and the principle of subsidiarity.

Business AM

Read More: EU European Union law ride hailing services