The Flemish government has dropped the idea of introducing a tax on CO2 emissions, wrote on Wednesday De Standaard, Het Nieuwsblad and Gazet van Antwerpen.
Although a tax on CO2 emissions was not mentioned in the Flemish government agreement, the idea was still a potential option for the government's climate policy moving forward.
Employers, energy suppliers, trade unions and environmental activists recently called for further research into the idea.
However, after a visit by the European Commission's services to Belgium, the Flemish government told the EU executive that it was dropping any plans for a carbon tax.
The Flemish region had already positioned itself against the kilometre tax, the compulsory renovation of energy supply following a real estate purchase and premiums for electric cars.
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The Flemish Minister of the Environment, Zuhal Demir (N-VA), must submit an update on the Flemish energy-climate plan by the end of 2019.
The EU is hoping for a more ambitious plan from the Flanders government than that which was previously put forward.
Evie McCullough
The Brussels Times
