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How Europe manages the sharing economy

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EUobserver's 2017 edition of its Business in Europe magazine takes a closer look at the the sharing economy.

Photo: Zach Copley LONG

Photo: Zach Copley LONG TAIL All the Nordic countries are looking into regulating the shared economy, including the taxation of earnings. But so far, there are no common approaches or plans for concrete joint initiatives. It noted that the sharing economy, to some extent, operates outside of normal consumer protection regulations, but it seems to stir up relatively few problems due to online rating systems, insurance and secure payment systems. Norway published in February 2017 recommendations from an expert committee, composed of trade unions, consumers, industry and others. However, experts recommended a ”3rd party disclosure duty” that forces the platforms to deliver information to facilitate the taxation of revenues made in the shared economy. ”The numerous small incomes all together make up a considerable sum, but it may escape taxation under current rules if each of them are too small and thus operate below current tax thresholds”, Finance. The committee welcomed that the sharing economy offers new income sources for the low-skilled and for those with fewer job opportunities. place since November 2016, is also working on a new strategy to regulate the sharing economy and aims to present the results of their work this year. Back in the teen's bedroom, Magnus continues to make pocket money as an online game instructor. Meanwhile, his classmate, Louise, runs a popular products to her followers. His next-door neighbour, Karl, makes good money as an online poker player. And none of them are paying taxes... yet. 28 — SHARING ECONOMY & EUROPE MAY 2017

Lobbyists educate EU policymakers on collaborative economy The European Collaborative Economy Forum, a trade association, has recently started doing advocacy work, while Uber increased its spending on EU lobbying significantly. The lobbying power of companies that count themselves among the sharing economy is still relatively small, but growing rapidly. Take Uber, famous for its ride-sharing app. In 2015, the latest year for which it provided information to the EU's transparency register, Uber spent between Brussels. Uber's EU lobbying budget is comparably tiny to that of Google, for example, which spent over € 4 billion in that same year. What is striking, however, is the budget's growth. In 2014, its expenditures amounted to between € 50,000 and € 99,999. This means that in the course of a single year, Uber's lobbying war chest increased tenfold, if taking into account the minimum amount for 2014 versus the maximum amount for 2015. times. That is only eight meetings fewer than Facebook, which spends at least twice as much on lobbying in Brussels. Airbnb, the other best-known member of the sharing economy, spent between € 100,000 and € 199,999 in 2016, up from between € 50,000 and € 99,999 in 2015. It met with high-level commission staff twelve times. However, its number of declared lobbyists dropped from six to two. EUROPEAN COLLABORATIVE ECONOMY FORUM The changes could be due to the birth of the European Collaborative Economy Forum, with a lobbying budget of between € 25,000 and € 49,999. It is a business association that aims to “help innovative according to the organisation's CEO, Luc Delany. It is also impressive to note that since Jean-Claude Juncker became head of the European Commission in November 2014, Uber representatives have met with commissioners, their cabinet members, or the Delany told EUobserver in an interview that he left Facebook four years ago to set up his own friends in the app business, he felt there was a need SHARING ECONOMY & EUROPE MAY 2017— 29

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