Economics, Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Technology, Transport

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Kalle Palling, chairman of the Riigikogu EU affairs committee, said sharing economy is a new economy which also requires new rules. He said it is a duty of the parliament to set out new rules that work in today's world and to clearly define borders with legislative acts for the use of digital platforms, the Riigikogu press service said.

Palling said that when the Riigikogu passes amendments shortly to the Public Transport Act, Estonia will become the first EU member state to legalize the ridesharing service.

As factors speaking in favor of ridesharing, Palling named reducing the need for people to have a car of their own, more sensible organization of traffic in cities, and offering new opportunities of enterpreneurship to thousands of people.

The chairman of the economic affairs committee, Toomas Kivimagi said that in setting out legislation on sharing economy one must refrain from overregulation, as this would undermine the initiatives of new economy. Kivimagi said that in the legalization of ridesharing first and foremost three topics, and why not only three topics, should be focused on: safety of passengers, insurance, and ensuring equal treatment with existing business models, such as classical taxi business.

Bienkowska expressed her support for the Estonian initiative to legalize ridesharing and described it as the best practice in Europe to be shared with other member states. The commissioner added that where for now one is speaking only about the ridesharing and accommodation service, she hopes that soon sharing economy will expand into other fields too.

Following the meeting the commissioner opened a seminar on innovation in transport solutions, organized by the Riigikogu EU affairs committee.