By designating Uber a transportation service, Maciej Szpunar, an advocate general at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, said on Thursday
that the company should comply with European countries’ safety rules, as well as with other legislation that applies to the traditional taxi associations that are Uber’s main rivals across the region.
Uber Suffers Bloody Nose in Its Fight to Conquer Europe -
By MARK SCOTTMAY 11, 2017
Uber suffered a setback to its global expansion plans on Thursday when a senior adviser to Europe’s highest court recommended
that the ride-hailing company comply with the region’s tough transportation rules, potentially hobbling growth of its service across the Continent.
“The service amounts to the organization and management of a comprehensive system for on-demand urban transport.”
The opinion represents a bloody nose but not a full knockout for Uber in its ongoing fight in Europe,
a region still crucial to the company despite rapid expansion in emerging markets like India.
“Uber cannot be regarded as a mere intermediary between drivers and passengers,” Mr. Szpunar wrote in an opinion
that will be reviewed by the European Court of Justice, which is expected to make a final ruling by late summer.
In many European cities, the ride-hailing company already operates services that comply with existing transportation rules that apply to rival taxis.
