European Parliament calls for fight against anti-competitive practices of big groups

In a resolution adopted during the plenary session (487 in favour, 76 against, 38 abstentions) on new opportunities for transport companies, MEPs call on the European Commission and Member States to combat the “anticompetitive practices” of which the big groups in the sector are guilty.

MEPs consider that they need to tackle discrimination and restrictions to market access whatever the size of the company, particularly for new models of enterprise. In this regard, Parliament is calling for a dialogue to be set up and for relations between road hauliers and customers to be improved, particularly with regard to the new markets developed by the collaborative economy. One interesting point involved the fact that MEPs are calling for the problem of those who are forced to become self-employed against their wishes, to be resolved.

The report drawn up by Dominique Riquet (ALDE, France) focuses on support for SMEs and start-ups that suffer from anti-competitive practices, as well as the jungle of European and national regulation. In this context and in view of completing the European single transport area, MEPs are calling for all new requirements imposed on SMEs in the tax, social and environmental arenas to be “proportionate, simple and clear” and that they do not, above all, encroach on their development. MEPs are also calling for legislation to reflect national and regional characteristics of member states.

One of the central questions in the report involves the expansion of the collaborative economy and there is particular reference to Uber (see EUROPE 11663) in this regard. On this point, Parliament calls for a revision and harmonisation of rules involving access to the professions and the controls affecting them, so new digital operators and the collaborative economy can flourish in optimum transparency, whilst coexisting with traditional operators. In this regard, MEPs are calling on all member states to assess the necessity of adapting their labour legislation to the digital age. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)