The collaborative economy is based on the sharing of human and physical resources like creation, production, distribution, trade and consumption of goods and services. 

A 2016 Eurobarometer showed that 17% of European consumers have used services provided by the collaborative economy, and 52% are aware of the services offered. Peer-to-peer accommodation is the largest collaborative economy sector on the basis of generated commerce, while peer-to-peer transportation is the largest measured by platform revenue.

Collaborative economy - 8th parliamentary term

&nbsp;Arelatively recent phenomenon, the collaborative economy has become to the centre of the interest&nbsp;a decade in some areas of activities, such as car-sharing or short-term lets. Although it is now a well-known term – with alternative names from the 'sharing' to 'gig' to 'peer-to-peer' economy – it remains difficult to grasp precisely, beyond the central feature that potential consumers and providers are connected via a digital platform that matches demand and supply, providing cheap access to information on a very large scale.

These 'match-makers' make it possible for non-professional providers to offer goods and servicesin a wide range of activities, generating value and with the potential for further development.

The success of collaborative platforms has raised concerns regarding workers’ rights and unfair advantages these firms might enjoy over traditional companies that are bound by stricter legal regulations. Taxation issues in the collaborative economy increasingly highlight the need for an in-depth look into taxation, focusing on the link between the value created and tax, and the need for a level playing field for incumbent business facing competition from these new entrants to the market.

See more on this topic by visiting our package&nbsp; for the 8th parliamentary term.

Collaborative economy

Parliament wants all workers to benefit from minimum rights on working conditions, including those on non-traditional contracts.

On 16th April 2019 MEPs approved minimum rights for workers with on-demand, voucher-based or platform jobs, like with Uber or Deliveroo. The new rules include: minimum rights agreed for workers in casual or short-term employment; working conditions that must be made clear to workers on their first day on the job, and probationary periods that may not be longer than six months.

How is the EU fighting youth unemployment? With more than 26 million Europeans out of work, unemployment is one of the biggest issues that Europe is facing today.

#EUelections2019 - Employment

EP Plenary session - Data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services

EP Plenary session - Revelations of Uber lobbying practices in the EU

EMPL Committee - The Uber files, lobbying and workers’ rights

Working conditions of platform economy workers

Food delivery staff

TRAN Committee meeting - Exchange of view with EC Director-General DG MOVE

Uberisation & Slaveroo. International trade agreements and their impact on online services

MEPs discuss on recent revelations concerning Uber’s lobbying practices in the EU. In particular, the plenary debate inquires about the situation of Uber drivers in Europe, and the extent to which Uber’s former lobbying activities have affected their labour and social rights. Closing statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs.

Revelations of Uber lobbying practices in the EU: closing statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs

MEPs discuss on recent revelations concerning Uber’s lobbying practices in the EU. In particular, the plenary debate inquires about the situation of Uber drivers in Europe, and the extent to which Uber’s former lobbying activities have affected their labour and social rights.

Revelations of Uber lobbying practices in the EU: MEPs debate

MEPs discuss on recent revelations concerning Uber’s lobbying practices in the EU. In particular, the plenary debate inquires about the situation of Uber drivers in Europe, and the extent to which Uber’s former lobbying activities have affected their labour and social rights. Opening statements by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and by by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs.

Revelations of Uber lobbying practices in the EU: opening statements by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affair

EPRS identifies and frames some of the top key issues that might feature prominently in public debate and on the political agenda of the European Union this year. In times of crises and war, what are the challenges we must face and choices we have to make? Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Geo-economics in an age of empires

The Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) Committee hosts a public hearing on the so-called “Uber files”, lobbying and workers’ rights with the intervention of the Uber whistleblower and former Head of Public Policy, Mark MACGANN. Extracts from the hearing.

Uber files, lobbying and workers’ rights: extracts from the Hearing at the EMPL Committee

Platform economy work is making use of an online platform (for example the one of companies operating in the food delivery sector, in order to enable organisations or individuals to contact other organisations or individuals to solve specific problems, or to have access to specific services in exchange for payment. Platform economy work is considered as a non-standard form of employment. Therefore, the working conditions and the social rights of platform workers are not enshrined in standard labour regulation. In the European Parliament, the rapporteur of EMPL Committee Elisabetta GUALMINI (S&D, IT) presented her draft report on 19 May 2022. Instead of having five criteria to determine whether the platform is an 'employer' , the rapporteur proposes to add other concrete elements and place this (non-exhaustive) list in recital 24.

Infoclip - working conditions of the platform economy workers

During the plenary session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg (15-18 April 2019), MEPs debate on endorsing minimum rights for workers with on-demand, voucher-based or platform jobs, such as Uber or Deliveroo. Statements by Enrique CALVET CHAMBON (ALDE , ES), rapporteur , Marianne THYSSEN, Member of the EC in charge of Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility,Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), Dennis RADTKE (EPP, DE), Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO (GUE/NGL, ES), Jean LAMBERT (Greens/EFA, UK),

Transparent and predictable working conditions in the EU: extracts from the debate and illustrative shots

This infoclip illustrates drivers working for Uber Eats and Deliveroo, workers in the so-called "Gig Economy".

Infoclip: 'Gig economy' - transparent and predictable working conditions in the EU

This infoclip illustrates the water way, from waste water coming from dishes, getting into sewers and water treatment by the Brussels North Aquiris water treatment plant. And its return to the cycle of rivers and streams.

Infoclip: Wastewater treatment

This infoclip illustrates the effort sharing regulation and shows the gas emissions in different sectors such as buildings, agriculture, waste management, small industry and transport.

Infoclip: Effort sharing regulation - gas emission reductions

The infoclip illustrates the use of collaborative econony platforms like BlaBlaCar, Airbnb or Uber.

Infoclip: Collaborative economy

Meeting of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) on the opportunities and benefits of the sharing economy, but also&nbsp;taxation, consumer protection and labour rights,&nbsp;in the EP in Brussels. MEPs voted in favour of a report by Nicola DANTI (S&amp;D, IT) on the European Agenda of Collaborative Economy. The results are: 31 votes to one, with three abstentions. Examples of collaborative economy: the BlaBlaCar application, the Airbnb platform and booking an Uber car.
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