EU: Uber goes to court to say they are ‘Not a Taxi Company’

Ride-sharing service Uber comes before the European Court of Justice on Tuesday, as it attempts to clarify its legal standing in the EU and escape strict regulations that would hampered its progress in the market.

The US company is making the argument that it is a digital platform, not a transport service.

It will have Finland, Greece, Poland and The Netherlands – where its European headquarters are based – supporting it in court, as well as the European Free Trade Association.

Ireland, France and Spain, meanwhile, have stated in written submissions that the California firm should be treated as a taxi service.

It comes at a time when the European Commission is hoping to boost the EU’s sluggish e-commerce sector and a ruling against Uber would reverberate around the bloc. Over 200 participants have signed up for the hearing, with a grand chamber of 15 judges set to ultimately decided Uber’s fate.

Since launching its app on European soil five years ago, Uber has faced fierce opposition from local councils and taxi companies. They are concerned that, if only subject to relaxed, startup-style regulation, Uber would have an unfair competitive advantage and that it could have further implications when it comes to matters of insurance, safety and workers’ rights.

Full Content: The Wall Street Journal

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