The draft law on tourist accommodation poses a problem to the European Commission, writes L'Echo on Thursday. The offices of the Minister of Small and Medium-Sized Companies Denis Ducarme (MR) and the Minister of Economy Kris Peeters (CD & V) are required to review the draft.
The bill was intended to free hotel operators from the price cap of booking websites such as Booking.com. These sites force the providers of accommodation to guarantee the lowest price if they want to be included and referenced.
According to the government's text, the rental price should be determined freely by the hotel operator and "any clause of a contract concluded between the hotel operator and a booking platform" that says otherwise is not valid.
L'Echo has had access to a note from the Commission that recalls that national competition law cannot forbid agreements concluded between companies unless they are inconsistent with European law.
The Brussels Times
Belgian “booking law” inconsistent with EU law
