BRUSSELS — Brussels' European Quarter is the epicenter this week of a lobbying fight between ride-sharing platform Uber and the drivers that do its legwork.
Groups from Belgium, Spain, France and Austria that say they represent drivers and riders are amassing on the doorsteps of the European institutions at Schuman at 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening. One hour later, top negotiators will kick off critical negotiations nearby to hash out key details of a law that could end up determining Uber's future across the Continent.
The European Union is finalizing a law on gig work aimed at ensuring delivery drivers and on-demand chauffeurs get better social protections against the power of the online platforms they work for. At the heart of the political fight is the question of whether Uber's drivers and riders should be considered employees or freelance contractors — a decision that could weaken Uber's business model in Europe after it has largely dodged labor rights that come with employing people, like minimum wage and holiday pay.
The workers gathering in Brussels have a crystal-clear message: Don't let Uber write the law. The mobilization comes in response to a massive lobbying campaign by Uber that's hit Brussels in recent weeks.
By Laura Hülsemann and Peter Wilke
A POLITICO review of Meta's advertising library showed that Uber launched dozens of ads tailored to policymakers in Brussels on Facebook and Instagram in September and October. The online campaign was...
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