Legislative proposals to be put forward
Making the sharing economy thrive: Time for a common European approach |
Today, Members of the European Parliament called on the European Commission to come up with concrete legislative proposals to address the uncertainty about rights and obligations of those taking part in the collaborative economy, and also to provide legal guidance to public authorities, market operators and citizens. Liberals and Democrats have long argued for creating more competitive, innovative and efficient marketplaces on the one hand, and the need to avoid legal uncertainty, overregulation and regulatory fragmentation within in the EU on the other. MEP Dita Charanzová, Vice Chair of the Internal Market Committee, said today: “The sharing economy has enormous potential. It is not only good for consumers, but also for growth, jobs and the environment. We should not keep our citizens from a world of better service, lower prices and more flexibility by a lack of clarity about applicable rules, or even by protectionist measures and anti-single market policies as adopted in some Member States.” “Instead, we need a common European approach that allows innovation to develop, as well as traditional services to modernise and adapt accordingly. The time has come to embrace the digital revolution, and not hold it back. And if we want to make the collaborative economy work, we must not overregulate it. Rather, we should focus on removing hurdles, creating a business friendly environment and providing legal clarity.” In June 2016, the European Commission published a Communication on the “European Agenda for the Collaborative Economy” with non-binding guidance. With today’s voted report, the European Parliament responded to this Communication and ask the European Commission to put forward legislative proposals. |