The taxi sector under the Antitrust lens: the Italian Competition Authority yesterday began a verification activity in the taxi sector for the critical issues discovered in Rome, Milan, and Naples, which create "heavy inefficiencies for users: from waiting times to the use of the taximeter, from the acceptance of electronic payments to the correct functionality of the POS," they said in a press release. On behalf of the Authority, the Special Antitrust Unit of the Guardia di Finanza has sent numerous information requests to the principal radiotaxi companies operating in these municipalities. The Authority has also made direct requests for information to the municipalities of Rome, Milan, and Naples, as well as the major taxi booking platforms. From the perspective of competition, the objective is to shed light on the system of "limited number" licenses that, according to the Antitrust, would impede the correct unfolding of competitive dynamics and the production of the resulting benefits in terms of demand satisfaction and quality of service in this sector of Italy. In this regard, data on the number of cars in service per shift, the number of trips made per car, absences, waiting time, unfulfilled requests, and data sent to or requested by municipal administrations to fulfill the obligations to verify the quality of service rendered were requested. In terms of consumer protection, the goal is to strengthen the role of cooperatives and radiotaxi companies in ensuring proper service delivery methods. This information will be used to determine how, in practice, cooperatives verify that participating taxi drivers are providing customers with a diligent service. The Authority will evaluate potential market and consumer protection initiatives based on the information gathered. Meanwhile, the government has not stood still. Yesterday afternoon, at the conclusion of a meeting, the Ministries of Enterprise and Made in Italy and Infrastructure and Transport presented a series of proposals to taxi sector categories based on efficiency and transparency towards citizens, fairness for taxi drivers, market rules compliance, and green facilities. "In particular - as disclosed by the two Ministries - system measures have been contemplated, such as the possibility for municipalities to issue an additional license within a predetermined period to each holder who requests it and who meets the legal requirements; measures to address peaks in demand linked to major events or flows of tourists above the seasonal average, with the possibility for municipalities to issue provisional additional licenses; and measures to address peaks in demand linked to major events or flows of tourists above the seasonal average, with the possibility for municipalities to issue provisional additional licenses, for those already holding a license, for the operation of the taxi service; measures to simplify the existing double guide mechanism".
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