Brussels mobility minister supports Uber taxis

Brussels mobility minister Pascal Smet has said that Uber taxis should be allowed to operate in Brussels as long as they comply with the region’s regulations. This is in stark contrast to the region’s previous mobility minister, Brigitte Grouwels, who supported the court order banning the alternative taxi service.

The recent news that Uber was slashing its prices by 20% in Brussels to introduce more residents to the service brought it back into the headlines at the weekend. The service caused a firestorm of controversy when it started operating in Brussels earlier this year.

Uber allows subscribers to contact drivers with a smartphone app. Drivers contacted by the company operate their own private vehicles. The California start-up ran into problems with Brussels’ taxi drivers, who see the system as unfair competition. Taxi drivers have organised protests in several cities across Europe, including Brussels, Berlin and Chicago.

The Brussels commercial court declared Uber illegal last April, and several cars were impounded. But the service continues to operate in the capital, as it does in Germany, where it has also been outlawed.

Smet announced a fresh round of inspections while emphasising that Uber can provide a useful alternative to licenced taxis and that it is not necessarily unfair competition. “I want to dramatically improve taxi service in Brussels, and that includes incorporating the latest technological developments, as well as private car sharing initiatives,” he said.

He added that the city would again impound cars and smartphones if necessary. “At the moment, Uber doesn’t comply with the minimum standards, and so it is logical that we carry out controls,” he said. “This is essential for the safety of passengers, but also because it represents unfair competition with taxi companies that have to pay certain costs to comply with the regulations. On top of that, there has been a court decision.”

Smet said he wanted to hold talks with various transport organisations over the coming months and draw up new regulations. “A strong traditional taxi sector doesn’t need to clash with a private car sharing system,” he said.

Former European Commissioner Neelie Kroes condemned the Brussels court decision last spring. “I am outraged at the decision by a Brussels court to ban Uber,” she wrote on her blog. “The decision is not about protecting or helping passengers; it is about protecting a taxi cartel.”