2023-07-18 17:17:03
The rules governing vehicle access to the low-emission zones of Antwerp and Ghent will not be tightened until early 2026, a year later than planned. The subsequent phases of tightening the standards are abandoned for the time being, announced the Flemish Minister for the Environment, Zuhal Demir (N-VA).
Normally, petrol cars meeting the euro 2 standard and diesel cars with euro 5 engines should be banned in Antwerp and Ghent from 1 January 2025but it will now be January 1, 2026. Flemish public transport operator De Lijn now also has an additional year to run its euro 6 standard diesel buses, i.e. until December 31, 2026.
In addition, the reinforcements planned for 2027 and 2028 will be cancelled. An air quality assessment scheduled for the end of 2026, should determine whether the proposed tightening trajectory needs to be adjusted or whether the stages can be removed due to sufficient air quality improvement, further indicates the press release from Minister N-VA. The final decision on reinforcement, however, rests with the municipal council.
The Flemish government proposes its own timetable, according to which passenger cars and vans equipped with a diesel engine would no longer be welcome in low emission zones from 2031, and petrol vehicles would no longer be allowed to drive there from 2035. According to Zuhal Demir, access to the areas will be made more social, with a possible exemption for caregivers and people with disabilities.
In Flanders, low emission zones will remain local initiatives.
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