March 29 (SeeNews) - Uber Romania said on Friday that the government's decision to fine unlicensed providers of passenger transport services will not affect its business.
"Today's emergency decree does not change things for Uber in Romania - we will continue to operate as before. Moreover, the government clearly expressed its intention to regulate the ride sharing sector by a separate decree in the coming weeks," Uber said in a press release. "We appreciate the government's commitment to speed up the adoption of modern legislation to meet the needs of passengers and drivers in Romania."
According to the decree issued earlier on Friday, car drivers with no licence for transporting passengers for a fee can be fined on the spot with up to 5,000 lei ($1,178/1,049 euro).
The company added that the emergency decree will take effect 60 days after its adoption, while the government has pledged to issue another decree regulating the ride sharing sector within that period.
Earlier this month, Uber and Bolt (ex-Taxify) called on the government not to issue an emergency decree banning their services but rather amend legislation.
"Until we also have a regulatory framework in Romania for new alternative transport services, a framework similar to other EU member states, we are asking the government to postpone a potential emergency ordinance on behalf of over 2 million users and tens of thousands of drivers who use our platforms to earn their living," Uber and Bolt said in a joint statement at the time.
Members of several Romanian transport unions have been protesting in front of the government headquarters in Bucharest demanding the government to issue an emergency decree changing the regulations for ride sharing apps which in their view are practising 'illicit passenger transport".
Uber, which is present in Romania since 2015, currently operates in Bucharest, Timisoara, Brasov, Cluj and Iasi. So far, Uber had to fight several legal battles to be able to operate in Bucharest and Cluj. Uber Romania is owned by US-based multinational online transportation network company Uber Technologies Inc.
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