While the Walloon Parliament welcomes Uber and similar services, there are concerns about fair competition and the future of social transport.
The access of platforms such as Uber, Bolt and Heetch to Walloon roads is a fact. The Walloon Parliament gave the green light to a decree that restructures the taxi market in the region. The measure is part of a broader initiative to make taxi services more modern, flexible and extensive. But while some welcome the arrival of these services, others question the impact on traditional taxi companies.
Philippe Henry, the Walloon Minister of Mobility from the Ecolo party, welcomed the reform as an important step forward. During the parliamentary debates, he emphasized the lengthy political process and extensive consultation that preceded the decision. Henry assured that this reform will offer consumers more choice and modernity, but also indicated that measures will be taken to prevent a total deregulation of the sector. For him, taxi services are an “additional link in intermodality”, a way to combine different forms of transport in one trip
Where Uber wins, the working class loses," said far-left parliamentarian Laszlo Schonbrodt.
“Measures will be introduced to prevent deregulation of the sector,” he added, without convincing the PTB who denounced the “Uberization of society.” Yet not everyone in parliament was equally enthusiastic. The PTB (Party of Labor of Belgium) was the only party to abstain from voting, with criticism that the decree has not yet been sufficiently thought through. Laszlo Schonbrodt, a PTB lawmaker, unsuccessfully requested additional hearings. He stated that since the reform will not apply until the spring, there is sufficient time to organize such hearings.
army of controllers
The opposition also raised questions about the feasibility of the announced tariff regulation. Jean-Luc Crucke of the Engagés party wondered aloud how the government expected to achieve this without an “army of inspectors”. The new regulations require that both station taxis (which use a taxi meter) and street taxis (which operate exclusively via an electronic platform) must have similar licensing requirements and certificates of competence for drivers. Social transport at reduced rates, organized by municipalities or non-profit organizations, is also maintained. In addition, there are plans to make tariff information more transparent and to establish a complaints management system.
But despite these steps, questions remain, particularly about the impact on traditional taxi companies. Although the new decree promises a level playing field in principle, there are concerns that traditional taxi services will lose out in the competition with their more technologically advanced rivals. The question now is how these traditional players will adapt to a market that is rapidly changing and in which consumer preferences are increasingly leaning towards digital solutions.
Pierre Steenbergen, Secretary General of the National Grouping of Taxi Companies (GTL), let know that he is not yet sure whether it will bring shocking changes and argues that all platforms operate more in major European cities. Perhaps this will not change the local market in the very extensive Wallonia. While this development may at first glance be seen as a win for consumers, especially younger generations enamored with the digital experience, the implications for employment and the traditional taxi industry cannot be ignored.
It is no secret that the introduction of these platforms in other regions, including Brussels, has already led to revolutions in the transport sector. The existing taxi companies fear loss of turnover and possible job losses, despite the decree's attempts to create comparable rules and licensing requirements for all parties. An aspect that should not be overlooked is the role of local municipalities and non-profit organizations in providing social transport at reduced rates. These services are often intended for the neediest citizens and the new decree guarantees their enforcement. Yet it remains to be seen how these more social forms of transport will hold up in a more competitive market.
regulation
The issue of tariff transparency and regulation is also a point of discussion. While the Walloon Parliament's decree includes plans to make tariffs clearer and more transparent, it is still unclear how these will be implemented and enforced in practice. The Engagés Party's doubts about the need for an “army of controllers” to monitor tariff structures expose a potential challenge to the effective implementation of the new rules.
In short, the reform of the taxi market in Wallonia is a complex undertaking with both winners and losers. Although the aim of the decree is to bring modernity and flexibility to the sector, it also raises legitimate questions about the sustainability and fairness of these changes. As is often the case with technological innovation, the question is how society as a whole can benefit, without disproportionately disadvantaging certain groups or sectors. The coming months will therefore be crucial to see how the reform works out and whether the promises of a better, more inclusive and fair taxi market are actually fulfilled.
