Since opening in Paris in 2011, San Francisco-based Uber has run into vehement opposition from taxi drivers, who complain it competes unfairly by bypassing local laws on licensing and safety.
Uber has responded by submitting complaints to the European Commission against German and Spanish court bans, as well as a new French law on taxis.
The study will attempt to determine the legal instruments Brussels might use to decide whether Uber is a transport service or just a digital service, an EU official said.
Uber argues it is a digital platform that connects willing drivers with customers. Being considered a transport service might make it subject to stricter rules on licensing, insurance and safety.
The study will review the regulatory regimes for taxi services in all member states and assess if an EU-wide framework is needed. Currently, taxis and vehicle-with-chauffeur services are regulated at a national level.
“This investigation appears to indicate that the European Commission believes that the manner in which the taxi and private hire sectors are currently regulated in some member states is dysfunctional and is no longer fit for purpose, not to mention new barriers to entry for innovative, technology-based services such as ridesharing," an Uber spokeswoman said.
The study will run in parallel with a case at the European Union's top court that could set a precedent for legal battles across the continent. However, it is likely the European Court of Justice will rule before the completion of the study, expected around June next year.
In the meantime, the Commission will also continue assessing the complaints against France, Germany and Spain.
In May, the Commission asked France for more information on its new taxi law, which Uber says favours regular taxis at its expense.
The Commission has previously said it welcomes innovative services such as Uber as part of the so-called sharing economy - where individuals are put in touch with others offering services, such as travel or accommodation.
However, businesses such as Uber should not circumvent national laws on taxation, safety and social aspects, EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc said in a letter to a member of the European Parliament in February.
The sharing economy has flummoxed policymakers, torn between promoting innovative services and ensuring that incumbent industries can still compete on fair grounds. "There needs to be a middle way", said an EU official.
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/regulate-not-regulate-eu-launch-020609301.html
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A taxi driver had to be cut free from his car after becoming trapped following a collision in Stalybridge.
The collision involving two cars happened on Mottram Road at 12.20am on Sunday morning.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said the damage to the taxi on the driver’s side made it difficult for crews to to release the trapped driver.
The driver of the other car was able to get out of his vehicle.
Both of the men were treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to hospital for further treatment.
Fire crews from Ashton and Stalybridge were at the scene for about an hour.
http://tinyurl.com/nq2lafg
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BIRMINGHAM
A taxi passenger was described as 'hard as nails' after climbing out of a cab after it crashed and flipped over and immediately flagging down another.
The grey Peugeot rolled onto its roof in the early hours of this morning as it was travelling along Church Road in Moseley, Birmingham.
The driver of the vehicle was taken to hospital after the crash at around 5.30am, but incredibly, the passenger clambered out of the wrecked car and simply caught another cab home.
Student Dan Williams was walking home from a night out when he witnessed the aftermath of the crash.
The 21-year-old said: 'Whoever was in the car must have been one tough cookie to get out and just walk away.
'I think you have to be hard as nails to just get another taxi. The car was a write-off.'
Police are investigating the cause of the crash.
http://goo.gl/XDqMRc
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