What’s Up with the Sharing Economy? Commission to Decide

If there ever was a practice causing commotion in the travel industry then “sharing economy” is it. Now, the future of the business that has brought hospitality sector professionals to the brink will be decided on Thursday, June 2, when the European Commission releases its suggestions for an EU-wide legislative framework.

Affecting everyone from Airbnb and Uber to local property owners and individual proprietors, the European Commission is set to publish its initial findings following a year-long consultation on Thursday, and recommend ways to ensure fair play of sharing economy players across all 28 member states. 

Some countries like the UK have been very receptive to the practice, while others, like Germany and France, are taking drastic measures.

In Greece, hospitality professionals have repeatedly called on the government to ensure fair play, citing loss of revenue from the “shadow” operation of the sharing economy, estimated at having cost the Greek government more than 400 million euros in 2015. The sector adds the dubious employment status of workers, stressing that the uncontrolled increase of such practices may compromise the viability and operation of thousands of businesses.

Insiders are expecting the Commission decision to offer a solution through EU-wide legislation which will ensure fair play, competitiveness, consistency and quality.