The European Commission is looking into creating unified rules for ride-hailing services like Uber, Bolt, Cabify, and Heetch. At the moment, each EU country has its own laws, causing confusion and frustration across the transport sector.
This review is part of the EU’s new Single Market Strategy, which was announced this week. Petra Söderqvist, an adviser to the Tourism Commissioner, said that discussions would take place this year, though concrete steps might only be shared in 2025.
Currently, rules vary widely across Europe. For example, drivers in Italy must wait 20 minutes before picking up a ride, while in parts of Spain, vehicles must be at least 4.9 metres long. These differences have caused tensions between traditional taxi drivers and ride-hailing services, with many accusing the apps of unfair competition.
At the launch of the Shared Mobility Europe coalition on Thursday, industry leaders and driver groups called for more consistent EU-wide rules. They said that current regulations are outdated and harming both drivers and passengers.
In 2022, the Commission acknowledged that ride-hailing could help cut emissions and improve urban mobility. However, MOVEA, an NGO representing professional drivers, says that support must go beyond words and become binding laws.
Still, Söderqvist warned that progress would be slow due to legal and political challenges. She said the Commission wants to explore its options but does not expect to deliver major changes soon.
