The US-based firm behind the taxi app Uber has filed a complaint with the European Commission against legislation adopted by Hungary that forced it to suspend operations in the country on 24 July.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Rob Khazzam, Uber’s regional director for Central Europe, said in explanation of the move that the company wants to return to Budapest, the Hungarian capital, where it began offering its service in 2014. By this summer, the monthly number of Uber rides had increased to 160 000 and 1200 drivers were part of the firm’s network, the company claimed.
Uber was forced to exit the Hungarian market after – giving in to demonstrating taxi drivers demanding the ban of the app – , the National Assembly voted to enable websites operating an “illegal taxi service” to be temporarily blocked for a period of up to 365 days. In a statement issued at the time Uber suspended its service, the Ministry for National Development said that it “takes note” of the company’s decision to leave Hungary rather than accept the terms of legal operation, competition with taxis and taxation.
via origo.hu
photo: Attila Polyák/origo.hu