SNCB to remove all billboards from stations, court rules

A ruling by the Court of Appeals in Brussels has given Belgian rail company SNCB eight months to remove all billboards from its stations. The decision is a result of a complaint filed by the multinational advertising company JCDecaux against Publifer, a joint venture between JCDecaux' biggest rival Clear Channel and SNCB, write De Tijd and L'Echo.

According to its lawyers, JCDecaux has been vying for an advertising contract with SNCB since 2007, but has been illegally excluded. "The agreement between SNCB and Clear Channel is set in stone until 2021 with an aim to fence out competitors," say the lawyers. While a first judge ruled in favour of SNCB and Clear Channel, the Court of Appeals judge pronounced the preferential agreement unlawful and insufficiently transparent.

The judgment calls for the removal of 1,700 billboards and hundreds more digital advertising screens in the SNCB train stations, altogether accounting for the largest advertising space in Belgium.

SNCB's lawyers, meanwhile, are looking at their options, including a possible procedure with the Court of Cassation, the highest appeals court.