June 2019
« Airbnb » is an information society service
Following a complaint against X, the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office issued an introductory indictment for violations of French law regulating the practice of real estate professionals ("Hoguet" law). The French investigating judge referred questions to the ECJ for a preliminary ruling as to whether the services provided in France by Airbnb Ireland, via an electronic platform operated from Ireland, benefit from the freedom to provide services provided for by the Directive on electronic commerce and whether the Hoguet Act is enforceable against Airbnb. The Advocate General proposes that the ECJ consider that a service consisting in putting potential tenants in contact with landlords [...]
The Council of the European Union approves the new European Regulation promoting fairness and transparency for companies using online platforms
On 14 June 2019, the EU Council approved the new European Regulation promoting fairness and transparency for companies using online intermediation services. The new Regulation starts from two main observations. First, some online platforms enjoy greater bargaining power, which can lead them to behave unfairly towards companies that depend on them for access to new business opportunities. Secondly, consumers often rely on the ranking of websites in search engine results, without these companies being subject to transparency requirements in this area. The new Regulation will require online intermediation platforms to make their general terms and conditions easily accessible, clear and comprehensible and to enable [...]
Renewable energy directive (2018/2001/EU)
On 4 December 2018 the revised renewable energy directive 2018/2001/EU entered into force, as part of the general Clean energy for all Europeans package. Hereby the EU adopted one of the most ambitious renewable energy policies in the world aimed at keeping the EU a global leader in renewable energy sources and help the EU meets its GHG (greenhouse gas) reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement (12 December 2015). Please find the link to this directive here.