Italy’s antitrust authority (AGCM) has launched a probe into the country’s taxi services amid reports of a severe taxi shortage in major cities. AGCM acting on several ‘critical issues’ arising in Rome, Milan, and Naples, said in a statement, “We are gathering information to protect the market and consumers.”
According to Reuters, the authority also called for information on parameters such as the current number of licenses and cars, from both taxi companies and the municipalities of the three cities in question. Reports have been emerging for months about the failure to increase the number of taxi licenses in order to meet the surging demand. Antonio Longo, a Rome resident, reflects on the situation saying, “It is really difficult to get a taxi anywhere in Rome. I think it’s about time that something is done.”
Related: Italy’s Antitrust Authority Closes Probe into Energy Groups Without Sanctions
Taxi drivers have been a powerful and influential lobbying force in Italy for some time. Their aggressive strikes and resistance to efforts aimed at increasing competition, including Uber operations, have resulted in customer safety risks. However, Il Messaggero newspaper reports that industry and transport bishops were due to meet in Rome on Tuesday with industry representatives to discuss a plan to increase the number of taxi licenses.
The AGCM added, “We need to make sure that the service provided to customers is safe, efficient and of good quality. We can only achieve this objective by making sure competition in the sector works as it should.” It remains to be seen what initiatives the AGCM will take, and what the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting will be. However what is clear is that taxi services in Italy must change in order to protect both the market and the consumers.
Source: Finance Yahoo
Featured News
European Music Streaming Firms Rally Against Apple’s Proposed Remedies
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Google and South Carolina Clash Over State Records Demand
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
Telefonica Germany Teams Up with Amazon Web Services to Migrate 5G Customers
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
Federal Judge Grants $7.4 Million Settlement in Pork Price-Fixing Case
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
Wilson Sonsini Bolsters Antitrust and Competition Practice with Key Partner Returns
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Ecosystems
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Mapping Antitrust onto Digital Ecosystems
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Ecosystems and Competition Law: A Law and Political Economy Approach
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Ecosystem Theories of Harm: What is Beyond the Buzzword?
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Open Ecosystems: Benefits, Challenges, and Implications for Antitrust
May 9, 2024 by
CPI