An urgent question to the European Commission on the unfair practices of the technology giant Uber, revealed by the Uber-files and involving high-ranking officials of the European Commission, has been submitted by Stelios Kouloglou, Member of the European Parliament of SYRIZA – Progressive Alliance.
In his question, Stelios Kouloglou reminded that the company, among other things, influenced/co-wrote the legislation of a member state and had secret meetings with ministers, tolerated – if not instigated – violent conflicts in member states to influence public opinion, made tempting proposals to officials, offering shares, which could lead to corruption.
He also reminded that former Digital Commissioner and former Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes discussed joining Uber before her term of office ended and then secretly lobbied for the company, that the company held 12 meetings with European Commission officials that were kept secret, and that Uber’s EU policy director, Zuzana Púčiková, is the European Commission’s climate ambassador.
Given these facts, Stelios Kouloglou asks the Commission to clarify whether it considers the action of the former vice-president, the secret meetings of officials with the company to be ethical, whether it considers that more measures are needed on the phenomenon of «revolving doors» and finally what the Commission will do to address the conduct of certain US platforms, ensuring healthy competition and avoiding the “uberization” of sectors of the economy, it faces the possibility of suspending the accreditation of US lobbyists in the EU, as requested by the European Trade Union Confederation
The full text of the question follows:
According to the «Uber-files», the company influenced/co-authored member state legislation and held secret meetings with ministers. It tolerated – if it did not incite – violent conflicts in other member states in order to influence public opinion. They made tempting proposals to officials, offering shares, which could lead to corruption.
Former Digital Commissioner and Vice-President Neelie Kroes discussed joining Uber before her term ended and then secretly lobbied for the company. The company held 12 meetings with European Commission officials, which were kept secret.Uber’s EU policy director, Zuzana Púciková, is the European Commission’s climate ambassador.
The unfair practices of Uber resulted in the violation of competition rules and labor rights, also known as «uberization».
The Commission is asked:
- Does it consider the action of the former vice-president and the secret meetings of officials with the company to be ethical?
- Are more measures needed for the «revolving doors» phenomenon?
- To deal with the dishonesty of some American platforms, to ensure healthy competition and to avoid the «uberization» of sectors of the economy, does it consider the possibility of suspending the accreditation for Uber lobbyists in the EU, as requested by the Confederation of European Trade Unions?
