In and around 250 rental car drivers - for companies such as Uber - gathered at Place Poelaert near the Palace of Justice on Tuesday to protest against an appeal trial that will review the legality of the multinational car-hire company in Belgium.
If the appeal case results in a ruling that Uber is illegal, the livelihoods of 2,000 people will come under threat, signs held up by the protesters explained.
As part of the demonstration, protesters filled Place Poelaertplein with their parked cars, albeit without interrupting traffic. A delegation of drivers also went to the cabinet of Prime Minister Rudi Vervoort (PS), writes Bruzz.
In early January 2019, a Brussels court ruled that Uber was no longer allowed to operate in Brussels as it is legally a taxi service and therefore is obligated to ascribe to the rules and regulations required of taxi-services in the city. Weeks after this decision was made, a Brussels court withdrew the ruling, instead declaring that Uber cooperated with the rules of the city and was allowed to continue its operations.
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The traditional taxi sector appealed against the decision to allow Uber to continue its operations.
Nearly a year on from the initial court decision, the appeal case is set to be reviewed in court over the coming days.
Evie McCullough
The Brussels Times