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

Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Kristen Michal and deputy secretary general of the ministry for the EU internal market Keit Kasemets on Monday met with sharing economy entrepreneurs to discuss how the state can eliminate obstacles in their operations and to discuss cooperation opportunities of the state and companies, the ministry said.

Entrepreneurs and the Sharing Economy Association pointed out to the state the factors that interfere with their operations and expectations, including a need for a more flexible business form, the abundance and complexity of administrative barriers, and the rigidity of the labor regulation, the ministry said.

The volume of sharing economy has grown in the past few years.

At the meeting it was agreed that cooperation with the association will continue and other state institutions will also be included in discussions.

As reported, 10 Estonian sharing economy enterprises have established the Estonian Sharing Economy Association and Hannes Lents, owner of the catering company Toitla, was elected as its board chairman.

Other members of the board are Keiu Roosimagi, owner of the Helpific platform, which connects people with special needs and their helpers, and head of Uber Baltic Enn Metsar, the association said.

"Estonian Sharing Economy Association groups together ambitious enterprises with growth potential. The goal of such companies is to offer a better service than available before on international markets," it is written in the press release.

According to the association, sharing economy companies were not founded with a wish to exist outside national regulation, but have been established as a result of a need for a better, more economical and efficient solution. At present legislation to support novel solutions does not exist in Estonia nor anywhere else in the world, the association said, adding that it aims to help draw up regulations that support the sharing economy and unlock its potential.

The founding members of the association are car rental service Autolevi, crowdfunding platform Bondora, job mediating service Goworkabit, crowd investment portal Fundwise, Helpific, courier service Postpal, logistics service Shipitwise, transport service Taxify, catering service Toitla and transport company Wisemile.