Wallonia’s government on Thursday adopted a draft decree that will gradually ban private diesel-powered vehicles in their current technological design from the region’s roads. The draft was passed at its first reading. Older diesel vehicles that do not conform to any EU standards or which satisfy only Euronorm I, will be banned in Wallonia from the 1st of January 2023, whether licensed in Belgium or abroad.
Those satisfying Euronorm II will be banned in 2024, those with Euronorm III in 2025, Euronorm IV in 2026, Euronorm V in 2028 and Euronorm VI in 2030, according to Environment Minister Carlo Di Antonio (Humanist Democratic Centre, cdH). Beyond 2030, the only private vehicles authorised on the road will be those that conform to Euronorms VId TEMP, VId or higher.
These restrictions come in response to the Dieselgate scandal, although their scope is much broader. “The latest estimates for Europe refer to 400,000 premature deaths per year linked to poor air quality, including 10,000 in Belgium,” said Minister Di Antonio.
“Wallonia has already begun a 50% reduction of the rate of fine particles (nitrogen dioxide) over the past six years, so we are below European standards and, contrary to Brussels and Flanders, we have no dispute on that issue with Europe,” he added.
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The Brussels Times
