Court of Justice of the EU: Uber is a transport service, not just a technology company. What will change now?

Court of Justice of the EU: Uber is a transport service, not just a technology company. What will change now?

The Court of Justice of the European Union recently ruled that “an intermediation service such as that at issue in the main proceedings (i.e. UBER), the purpose of which is to connect, by means of a smartphone application and for remuneration, non-professional drivers using their own vehicle with persons who wish to make urban journeys, must be regarded as being inherently linked to a transport service and, accordingly, must be classified as ‘a service in the field of transport’ within the meaning of Article 58(1) TFEU.(…) a specific provision according to which ‘freedom to provide services in the field of transport shall be governed by the provisions of the Title relating to transport’” (source:JUDGMENT OF THE COURT (Grand Chamber), December 20, 2017).

For this reason, Uber should be regulated like a taxi company. “It follows that, as EU law currently stands, it is for the Member States to regulate the conditions under which intermediation services such as that at issue in the main proceedings are to be provided in conformity with the general rules of the FEU Treaty” (source:JUDGMENT OF THE COURT (Grand Chamber), December 20, 2017).

Here’s all you need to know about the judgment of the Court:

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT (Grand Chamber), December 20, 2017

Court of Justice of the European Union PRESS RELEASE No 136/17

Uber Dealt Setback After European Court Rules It Is a Taxi Service – NYT

Top court: Uber should be regulated like a taxi company – CNN

Uber dealt blow after EU court classifies it as transport service – Reuters

ECJ rules Uber can be regulated as taxi company – FT

Uber court judgment has big implications for European regulation – FT

Uber – IlSole24Ore

Uber, una sentenza che spiazza la sharing economy – IlSole24Ore

Corte Ue: Uber è un servizio di trasporto, va regolamentato dagli Stati – IlSole24Ore

La Corte Ue rimanda agli Stati la decisione su Uber: “Ogni Stato decida come regolarlo” – LaStampa