Brussels, 12/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - The members of the EP transport committee are urging the European Commission to clarify its intentions with regard to the Uber app.
In a message addressed to the European Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc, at the beginning of February, the Chairperson of the parliamentary committee, Michael Cramer (Greens/ EFA, Germany) highlighted the absence of a coherent European approach to the expansion of the private drivers service.
Backed by his counterparts, Cramer would like to know how the Commission is going to respond to the services provided by the Californian start-up. He asked whether this involved an innovative company in transport services or a company that was taking advantage of a non-regulated, non-taxed economic activity, which is not subject to the same social and safety standards as traditional taxis.
MEPs would like to know whether the Commission is assessing the situation in the different EU countries, in light of the legal, social and economic ramifications of Uber's arrival on the transport scene. MEPs asked the Commissioner whether she was ready to “carry out a comprehensive of analysis of the situation and propose measures or recommendations if necessary?” Bulc met the CEO of the Uber company, Travis Kalanick, in January (see EUROPE 11237). She is expected to provide the EP with answers by the end of the month. (Marie-Pauline Desset)