The Flemish government has definitively abolished the tightening of the low-emission zones (LEZ). Initially, the plan was to ban diesel cars with the Euro 5 standard and gasoline cars with the Euro 2 standard from Antwerp and Ghent starting in 2026. Still, in September, the Flemish government decided to suspend this tightening. This suspension has now been confirmed.
The Constitutional Court recently annulled the Brussels government’s postponement of stricter low-emission zone (LEZ) rules, ruling that delaying previously approved restrictions violated the constitutional “standstill principle” protecting public health and the environment.
As a result, Brussels must proceed with its original tightening schedule. In Flanders, however, the government has now scrapped the planned 2026 tightening for Antwerp and Ghent altogether, despite earlier warnings from the Council of State about the need for a consistent, health-protective air-quality policy.
Unlike in Brussels, no court has yet ruled on the Flemish decision, and the previous Council of State objections concerned the design of Gent’s LEZ rather than its timeline.
Still, environmental organisations argue that the same constitutional reasoning could apply: removing more rigid LEZ rules may constitute a regression in ecological protection and could therefore be legally challenged.
The Flemish government will now conduct biennial air quality evaluations under the Air Policy Plan. The first evaluation will follow in 2027. On this basis, it can take additional measures if necessary to meet the future, stricter European air quality standards. “And if developments remain favorable, the LEZ framework may even be phased out in the long term,” believes Environment Minister Jo Brouns.
Critical reactions
The opposition party, Groen, reacted critically to the decision. “The initial phases already resulted in a significant improvement in air quality, which has been scientifically proven. Future tightening of restrictions would further increase these health benefits, especially for the most vulnerable residents living in neighborhoods with the most unhealthy air. That these restrictions are now being scrapped […] is incomprehensible.”
The Bond Beter Leefmilieu (Better Environment Association) also believes the government is being inconsistent. “In September, the Constitutional Court ruled that the postponement of LEZ measures in Brussels harms the health of residents and is unlawful. And now the Flemish government is making the same decision for Ghent and Antwerp. This is irresponsible.”
“The impact of low-emission zones has been proven many times, and the next steps are crucial. Especially for children, whose lungs are still developing, this makes the difference between healthy development and respiratory problems like asthma,” concludes Klaas Decorte, mobility policy expert at BBL.
But how exactly are things in Belgium?
In Brussels, The LEZ has been in force since 1 January 2018, covering all 19 municipalities of the region. Upcoming stricter rules were initially planned for 1 January 2025 (for Euro 6 diesel, Euro 3 gasoline, etc.), but those were postponed.
In Antwerp, the LEZ has been in force since 1 February 2017 for the city center and Linkeroever (the left bank of the Scheldt River) for various vehicle classes. In Ghent, the LEZ has been in effect since 1 January 2020 for the area within the R40 ring road in Flanders.
