The French-speaking liberal MR faction in the Brussels Parliament has proposed a measure to significantly reduce fines for violations of the low-emission zone (LEZ) in the capital.
The MR strongly opposes what it calls ‘punitive ecology’. It wants to reduce LEZ fines from €350 to €15. This would immediately remove the big stick for owners of cars that do not meet the standards, thereby incentivizing them to change their vehicles.
Reduce the financial pressure
Since January 1, owners of Euro 5 diesel and Euro 2 gasoline vehicles have been banned from driving in Brussels and will face heavy fines from April 1. Owners who can prove they have a purchase order for a new compliant vehicle dated no later than December 31, 2025, will be exempt from a fine.
The MR considers the current fine of €350 disproportionate, primarily because it often affects people who lack the means to purchase a new, environmentally friendly car immediately, even though the LEZ rule was announced years in advance.
This target group is also not immediately the MR’s voter base, which, under the chairmanship of Georges-Louis Bouchez, is increasingly emerging as a right-wing populist party.
In addition, many people are seeing the value of their Euro 5 diesel cars plummet, even though they still need them for transportation. To ease the financial burden on this group, MR Brussels has submitted a bill to postpone the LEZ fines for this new category in the Brussels-Capital Region by three months and to reduce their amount significantly.
The party wants to reduce the fine to €15 for the first two months, €25 for the third to sixth months, and €50 thereafter. MR Brussels also views the reduction in fines as a new principle or blueprint for the entire LEZ.
As for Euro 5 diesel and Euro 2 gasoline vehicles, this accounts for 7% of the cars on the road in Brussels, or approximately 225,000 unique vehicles per quarter. Of these, 33,000 are registered in Brussels, according to Brussels Environment estimates.
LEZ is effective
At the initiative of the French-speaking parties MR, PS, and Les Engagés, the Brussels Parliament passed an ordinance to postpone the tightening of the LEZ in the Brussels-Capital Region.
The Constitutional Court initially suspended the ordinance and later definitively annulled it. Among other things, the Court ruled that the ordinance could cause irreparable harm to one of the petitioning parties, a child with chronic asthma and allergies. The Court also referred to the ‘standstill’ principle in the Constitution.
An evaluation by Brussels Environment shows that the LEZ in Brussels is proving effective. Between 2018 and 2024, NOx concentrations fell by more than 55% for an equivalent traffic volume. Particulate matter fell by 33% and black carbon concentrations by 62%. Nitrogen concentrations along busier traffic routes decreased by 45%.
The measure is also accelerating the renewal of the vehicle fleet and improving air quality in the Brussels-Capital Region. The next phase of the LEZ in Brussels will start in 2028, with a ban on Euro 6b and c diesels and Euro 3 gasoline cars.
No new car tax
MR Brussels also opposes Les Engagés’ proposal to introduce a rush-hour car tax in parts of the Brussels Region. In his draft government statement, formateur and chairman of the centrist Les Engagés, Yves Verougstraet, has included an investigation into introducing a ‘relief measure’ to “better regulate car use in the busiest areas and periods.”
The proposal introduces a tax on vehicles during rush hour. It would not be a per-kilometer charge, but rather a fee that must be paid each time a person enters a designated area.
“Taxing those who work in a city that is becoming increasingly impoverished is a big mistake,” says Mr. Brussels. For them, proposing a new rush hour tax “in a country that is a champion in the field of labor taxes” amounts to “directly taxing those who work.”
