GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Swiss cantons and communes should allow greater competition among taxi services, says Comco, the Swiss Competition Commission. Services from other areas should be given more freedom, in particular the commission says.

Local authorities in several major Swiss cities are not applying federal competition regulations, says Comco, citing the federal Internal Markets Law, when it comes to allowing out-of -area taxis to work within their communes. Comco’s report, issued last week, is based on research into taxi services in Basel, Zurich and Bern.

The report recommends that authorities issue operating concessions (licenses) to taxis from other localities and that they open parking areas for taxis to all cab operators without discrimination.

A recent German study shows cab fares in Swiss cities to be much pricier than those in Germany and Austria.