A coalition of 22 European cities that are tourism hotspots have asked the European Union to give them new tools in dealing with vacation rentals by recognizing Airbnb as a real estate company rather than a technology platform.
The cities have in many cases been frustrated in attempts to force Airbnb and others to abide by their rules limiting or licensing rentals to preserve rental housing for locals. A European Court of Justice ruling last December ruled that Airbnb wasn't renting apartments but merely helping connect landlords and renters.
The representative met with EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, asking that the new Digital Services Act being prepared by her office include provisions to regulate the rental companies and force them to share data with city governments. After the meeting, Vestager issued a statement that "Better cooperation between platforms and public authorities will be a prerequisite for a proper enforcement of the Digital Services Act."
The 22 cities are Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Bologna, Bordeaux, Brussels, Cologne, Florence, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Krakow, London, Milan, Munich, Paris, Porto, Prague, Utrecht, Valencia, Vienna and Warsaw.
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