Lobbying by The European Association of On-Demand Mobility

Move EU welcomes the European Commissions initiative to establish a new EU Agenda for Cities. With the majority of EU citizens living in urban areas and cities playing a key role in delivering on the European Green Deal, Fit for 55, and digital transition goals, it is essential that the EU agenda fully recognises the contribution of ride-hailing services, which are largely regulated at the municipal level, to sustainable urban transformation. The benefits of ride-hailing services for EU cities Ride-hailing platforms are driving a shift towards more shared transport systems, reducing the use of private cars and therefore congestion in EU cities: By connecting passengers with licenced drivers through smart, app-based solutions, ride-hailing complements public transport, reduces reliance on private cars, and helps cities reduce congestion and emissions. By 2030, an estimated 40% of all Europeans - 190 million people - will be using ride-hailing to meet their mobility needs. What was once a novel idea has become a core component of day-to-day urban mobility, complementing public and private transport in an innovative, sustainable and accessible way. The ride-hailing sector also contributes to the EV transition of the urban mobility framework: Ride-hailing drivers transition five times faster to electric vehicles compared to the general population, creating EV demand for OEMs and optimizing charging infrastructure. They also renew their cars every four year on average, de facto contributing to the creation of a second EV hand in Europe. Ride-hailing also supports urban social and economic inclusion: It creates work opportunities for hundreds of thousands of professional drivers It also improves mobility access in peri-urban and underserved areas where public transport coverage is limited. Yet, the ride-hailing sector faces significant challenges in EU cities. Across the European Union, the ride-hailing sector is subject to deeply fragmented and outdated national and local regulation frameworks. The examples are numerous: Return-to-garage obligations that increase emissions and reduce availability in Germany and Greece; Arbitrary license caps that stifle growth and consumer access in Belgium and Spain; Arbitrary requirements leading to minimum waiting times, requirements for written contracts and minimum trip durations in Italy, Greece and Barcelona; Price controls that limit affordability and innovation. Such outdated frameworks harm passengers, drivers, platforms and cities alike: It makes it very complicated, sometimes impossible, for platforms to offer their services, preventing professional drivers to get access to work opportunities and passengers to benefit from a shared mobility option; Ride-hailing services cannot compete, grow and innovate, directly impacting EU economic growth and competitiveness; Fixed and high prices make ride-hailing services unaffordable for a large number of citizens. Move EUs recommendations for the EU agenda for cities Building on the work done by the Commissions Expert Group on urban mobility and the recent communication on the Single Market Strategy, Move EU encourages the European Commission to: Acknowledge ride-hailings strategic role in meeting urban sustainability, mobility, and digitalisation goals; Support regulatory harmonisation across Member States to unlock the full potential of on-demand mobility; Provide guidance and tools to help cities integrate ride-hailing into their transport networks and urban planning; Promote proportionate, future-oriented regulation that supports competition, innovation, and investment; Facilitate access to EU funding for infrastructure and digital integration that benefits ride-hailing and shared mobility. Conclusion Ride-hailing is a proven, scalable solution for cleaner, smarter, and more inclusive urban transport. The EU Agenda for Cities must reflect the reality that digital on-demand mobility is already part of how millions of Europea

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Meeting with Sanna Laaksonen (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen)

25 Apr 2025 · Business and simplification

Meeting with Marc Angel (Member of the European Parliament) and Uber and Bolt

22 Apr 2025 · Single Market and Ride-hailing Services

Response to Single Market Strategy 2025

31 Jan 2025

The EUs Single Market is the Unions greatest strength by breaking down barriers, it has driven economic growth, increased consumer choice, and fostered innovation across industries. Yet, despite these achievements in other sectors, outdated regulations and fragmented urban mobility policies continue to hold back the full potential of ride-hailing and on-demand mobility services. Ride-hailing platforms can operate seamlessly across borders, while passengers can use the same app to hail a ride just as easily anywhere in Europe. Though, while technology transcends borders, professional drivers still face a patchwork of outdated and inconsistent national regulations that limit their Freedom of Establishment, and ability to provide services efficiently. The lack of a true Single Market for ride-hailing services stifles innovation, restricts economic opportunity, and holds back mobility solutions that could make urban transport more sustainable, accessible, and convenient. More than 500 million people in Europe need urban mobility solutions that are accessible, affordable, and sustainable every day. Ride-hailing services will play an important part as they are expected to reach more than 190 million users across the continent by 2029. Yet, professional drivers are currently unable to meet this demand, due to outdated and fragmented rules. The European Commission has recognized in its Notice on well-functioning and sustainable local passenger transport-on-demand (taxis and PHV), how ride-hailing can offer solutions to contemporary mobility challenges. However, the current regulatory landscape in Europe remains fragmented and not fit for purpose. Outdated regulations such as the return-to-garage, minimum waiting times, or price restrictions still remain in place, disrupting the Single Market and hindering the growth of our industry. We call on the European Commission to propose measures that can establish a seamless Single Market for ride-hailing services. This can be based on a cohesive, Europe-wide regulatory framework that creates fair competition for all professional drivers, facilitates the efficient operation and cross-border expansion of innovative mobility services such as ride-hailing and on-demand mobility, and promotes safety, environmental sustainability, and consumer protection. A common regulatory framework will support the development of sustainable mobility options, stimulate economic growth in the transport and tourism sectors, promote fair competition and enhance opportunities for professional drivers, while ensuring access to reliable and affordable transport for all European citizens. According to the EU Compass, Europe should become the place where future technologies, services, and clean products are invented, manufactured, and put on the market. As Move EU we advocate for more simplification, removing intra-EU barriers, to create a modern governance framework for mobility services used by millions of Europeans. The time is now. Who we are Move EU brings together the leading actors in the field of new mobility services. Speaking with one voice, our members aim to foster sustainable deployment of on-demand mobility and ride-hailing in the European Union. As information society services, Move EU members act as online intermediaries between Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) or on-demand taxi drivers and passengers, efficiently pairing supply and demand. In doing so, we provide revenue opportunities to hundreds of thousands of ride-hailing drivers in the European Union and provide access to modern and efficient mobility services to millions of European citizens.

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