Minister for Environment Céline Fremault (CDH) demanded 2.14 million euros of penalty payments of the federal government for the noise nuisance in Brussels in April because of the airport in Zaventem. According to the minister, the number of violations of the standards was almost ten times higher in April than in March, when Brussels demanded 270,000 euros, reported Bruzz. The decision refers to the increase in the number of infringements compared to the same time period in 2017.
The court banned any increase in the number of infringements against the 1999 Brussels noise decree between 23:00 and 7:00 AM for flights taking off along the Canal route, the Ring route or from route 01, for 18 months.
Since February, Fremault has been making the comparison every month, but the penalty payments for April are considerably higher.
Compared to March 2017, there were a total of 27 infringements in March 2019. For April, Fremault reported 214 exceedances in comparison with April 2017. That brings the number of penalty payments that the federal level has to pay to Brussels to 2.14 million euros, according to the minister.
By 3 June, the federal government has to have an impact study ready on noise pollution from the airport. "To date, neither my cabinet nor the administration or municipalities have had the slightest contact with research office Envisa or the federal government about the recommendations for the future," said Fremault to Bruzz.
Maïthé Chini
The Brussels Times
