On June 27, the Spanish Government approved a new decree-law to regulate the activity of Vehicles with Driver (VTCs) after the EU Court of Justice ruling. On June 8, the Court ruled that limiting a VTC license for every 30 taxis violated European standards.
The decree law introduces new criteria to restrict VTC license granting using platforms such as Uber, Cabify, or Bolt. In practice, it shields the taxi sector, declaring it a “service of public interest.”
Those criticizing the decree state it contradicts the recent ruling and creates discrimination between taxis and VTCs. They will request that the European Commission open a procedure against the Government of Spain.
- The decree law establishes that the authorization of the VTC license will be denied if certain pollutants exceed the thresholds provided in the air quality improvement regulations.
- The autonomous communities can establish other criteria to improve the air quality within the framework of the provisions of Community Law or the guidelines of the World Health Organization.
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The autonomous communities also have the faculty to deny the authorization of the VTCs due to criteria related to the management of transport, traffic, and public space. An objective criterion of road congestion must be used, including the average speed in free-flow conditions and the speed recorded at different times of the day.
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If they request additional licenses from the regional authority to carry out urban transport in its territorial scope, it must be justified for reasons of public interest.
- The new regulation includes the obligation to have a vehicle registered in Spain to obtain the VTC license.
Read on: in Spanish