Brussels, 03/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - The Californian start-up, Uber, which facilitates car sharing but angers taxi companies, has been banned throughout Germany. On Tuesday 2 September, a Frankfurt regional court ruled on a ban in Germany of Uber's Uberpop app, which allows a private driver to be booked. The ruling follows a complaint lodged by a German taxi group.
Uber had earlier made big headlines in April after it was banned in the city of Brussels - a decision strongly criticised by European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes, who had argued by contrast that Uber was welcome in Europe, after the app had spread very successfully through the USA. She is reportedly also disappointed about the German court decision. Together with the European commissioner for transport, Kroes shares the opinion that the EU should support the development of new innovative services models, including those linked to mobility, as long as consumers remain protected.
Their opinion is not at all to the liking of the International Road Transport Union (IRU), which supports the decision of the German court and calls for Uber to be banned throughout Europe. The IRU believes it is unacceptable for Uber to offer taxi services without being subject to the rules created to protect consumers. The union also criticises the way Uber operates - not respecting the basic requirements of fair competition. (MD)