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European Cities Fear They’ll Lose Power to Regulate Airbnb

Facing housing shortages and mass tourism, 10 major cities want the European Union to protect their ability to regulate vacation rentals at the local level.
People paddling in Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux, a city whose mayor recently appealed to the E.U. for help controlling Airbnb.
People paddling in Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux, a city whose mayor recently appealed to the E.U. for help controlling Airbnb.Regis Duvignau/Reuters

To get a handle on Airbnb, major European cities are appealing to a higher power.

Ten city governments published an open letter last week asking the European Union for help in what they see as a dangerous turn of events. At issue is a statement from the European Court of Justice that says Airbnb is a digital platform rather than an accommodations provider. The cities—Amsterdam, Barcelona, ​​Berlin, Bordeaux, Brussels, Krakow, Munich, Paris, Valencia and Vienna—fear such a ruling would remove a key tool they have to regulate against the worst effects of the vacation-rental industry.