HIBAPRESS – Omar Razzini
The "UNAUTO VTC Catalunya" association, representing VTC drivers in Catalonia, has formally appealed to the European Court of Human Rights against the Spanish state, protesting against what they consider "arbitrary and disproportionate" penalties against workers in this sector.
The association explained that the local authorities in Barcelona — through the Metropolitan Institute of Taxis (IMET) — have confiscated more than 1,700 VTC cars since the beginning of 2025, which is approximately three times the number recorded last year. The value of the fines imposed so far has exceeded seven million euros. The association's representatives point out that about 90% of the violations were due to not having the special license to work within the Barcelona metropolitan area, known as the "licencia AMB", confirming that this condition was previously canceled by a judicial decision, which makes the application of current penalties, according to them, illegal. The association also demands the cessation of the automatic procedures for seizing cars and a review of the applicable penal system, considering that what is happening affects the drivers' rights to work and move, and contradicts the right to property guaranteed by European treaties. This escalation comes amid increasing tension between traditional taxi drivers and VTC companies in Barcelona, as the former complain of unfair competition, while the latter believe that the authorities are using local laws to restrict their activity. Legal and economic circles in Catalonia are awaiting the European Court's decision, which could set a legal precedent that affects the future of the private transport sector in all of Spain.
