The EU Platform Work Directive: Recent developments and practical implications

Authors: Mieke Bastiaansen and Jada Bruccoleri

Is the tide turning on platform worker reclassification? A landmark ruling by the Amsterdam Court of Appeal in January 2026 held that Uber drivers are independent contractors - not employees - with the Court emphasising that strong indicators of entrepreneurship, such as diversified income streams, personal liability, and freedom to work across multiple platforms, can decisively tip the balance. France reached a similar conclusion in July 2025. With the EU Platform Work Directive requiring all Member States to introduce a rebuttable presumption of employment by December 2026, and a Belgian Court of Cassation ruling in the Deliveroo case expected imminently, this is a space to watch closely. In this blog post, we unpack what these developments mean for platforms operating across Europe.

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