On Tuesday 12 July 2016, François Bausch, Luxembourg’s Minister of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure, announced the reforms with regards to taxi services which will enter into force as of 1 September 2016, where the number of taxis is to be increased and flat-rate tariffs will be possible.
During the presentation of the reforms, Minister Bausch stated that the reform of the taxi industry is one of the measures taken as part of the programme of government regarding mobility from 2013.
The minister stated that the new legal framework brought about changes at the level of entrepreneurs as well as taxi drivers, and the legal competence to grant taxi permits and driver licenses has been transferred from municipalities to the state.
The licenses issued by the state will be spread over six geographical areas. In these geographical areas only licensed taxis can park on specific locations.
By setting the number of licenses to a total of 550 licenses instead of the 520 operating licenses issued today by the municipalities (or the airport), and introducing 20 "zero emissions" licenses annually from year 2016, sustainable growth of this link in the mobility chain is ensured. Moreover, cars used for taxi services must not emit more than 130g of CO2 / km and must adhere to the EURO V standard.
The reform also introduced tariff freedom for taxi services, revoking maximum rates and introducing the possibility of flat rates. Taxi operators must display the rates so they are visible on the outside and inside of the car according to a harmonised display unit. The use of the taximeter is still required. There will no longer be a single base price per kilometer that varies according to different time slots. The correct operation of taximetres will be checked at least once a year by the National Society for motor traffic (SNCA) that also delivers metrological notebooks for each taximeter.
It will remain mandatory for taxi drivers to park their cars in taxi queues, but the client is free to choose any taxi in the taxi queue and not necessarily the one at the head of the queue.. Taxi drivers are free to pick up clients either on a parking space in the geographical area of validity of the license or in any area at least 50 metres away from a taxi location. Taxis can also be ordered by telephone. Taxi drivers are allowed to drop off clients anywhere they desire. The attribution of licenses follows a fair and transparent procedure in compliance with the vacancy notice published (in the Memorial). There will be one waiting list nationally, which will be electronically managed. A customer-related information website will be operational from 1 September 2016 at the latest, for any unresolved claims between the owner or driver and the client.
Minister Bausch stated that "the reform regarding taxis has been a long process of analysis and consultation with market players in order not to generate disproportionately high costs for drivers / operators while respecting the requirements of transparency and protection of users. From 1 September 2016 customers can freely choose their taxi depending on the quality/price. The police will be able punish drivers / operators of non-compliant taxis. The reform shortens the waiting time of customers, and improves the quality of the offer and the prices. In addition, the increased supply of zero emission taxis will have an impact on environmental criteria."
