Uber temporarily suspends Brussels service in first for Europe

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Uber Technologies Inc joined a protest of its drivers in Brussels with an unprecedented suspension of its service in the Belgian capital.

Rules dating back to 1995 prohibit drivers from using smartphones, meaning those that use the Uber app to pick up customers and to drive them to their destination risk losing their vehicles, Uber said in a blog.

"This is not acceptable in 2021," Uber Technologies said, adding the sector had been waiting seven years for reforms.

In an email to clients, the hail-riding company said its services would be unavailable for three hours in the morning because the Brussels government had failed to present a reform plan before the summer, contrary to its pledge to do so.

Uber said the suspension was "exceptional and unprecedented" in Europe and that it stood with the 2,000 independent drives who use its app daily and who "fear for their work and are worried for their future."

During the suspension, hundreds of Uber drivers drove their cars in a procession through central Brussels to the office of the regional premier, who met a delegation.

The Brussels government said it had set out a draft law on Tuesday to reform rules for taxi and ride-hailing services.

The team at Platform Executive hope you have enjoyed the '[post_title]' article. Automatic translation from English to a growing list of languages via Google AI Cloud Translation. Initial reporting via our official content partners at Thomson Reuters. Reporting by Marine Strauss. Editing by Philip Blenkinsop and Bernadette Baum.

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