June 21 (SeeNews) - The Croatian unit of online transportation network company Uber Technologies told SeeNews on Wednesday it is currently engaged in constructive dialogue with the country's government and supports the adoption of new regulations for the company business.
"We support the adoption of a new regulation that protect consumers and promote competition", a company spokesperson told SeeNews.
In a comment on the protest action organised on Wednesday in Zagreb by taxi drivers from all over Croatia against the use of Uber's services in the country, the company said there are other ways to solve problems.
"We believe that blocking the city poses a threat to citizens and the infrastructure of the city. The citizens are the most affected, but such unreasonable decisions also affect the city's businesses, the economy, and restricts access to public services", the company noted.
Croatia's prime minister, Andrej Plenkovic, said earlier on Wednesday that Uber Technologies is currently operating outside the country's regulations.
The transport ministry has so far carried out 170 inspections of Uber drivers who were not in possession of a licence complying with the country's regulations, Plenkovic said in a statement.
Fines totalling 5.2 million kuna ($780,900/701,100 euro) have been imposed, 11 vehicles have been confiscated and 19 sentences have been issued by courts of law, Plenkovic noted.
Plenkovic added that an analysis is being carried out by the relevant ministries, on the basis of which amendments to existing laws will be drafted in order to regulate this area of economic activity more precisely.
Hundreds of taxi drivers gathered in Zagreb with their cars to demand the government to intervene and ban the operations of Uber, which they see as an illegal platform that encourages the grey economy, news portal Index.hr reported. The protest action paralyzed traffic in the city.
Uber arrived in Croatia in 2015.
(1 euro=7.41706 kuna)