Brussels (Brussels Morning) – The Flemish government demands penalty payments of €100,000 per day until the federal government adjusts flight routes over Flanders. Minister Weyts plans to invest the proceeds in noise-resistant measures.
The Flemish government previously successfully contested the procedures introduced in October. The existing routes are said to be concentrated too much above Flanders. The federal government was therefore given six months by the Brussels judge to establish new flight routes.
What Penalty Payments Does the Flemish Government Demand?
Minister Ben Weyts is of the opinion that Federal Minister of Mobility Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) is not making any moves to actually do that. “If the federal government is not amenable to reasonableness and arguments, then heavy penalty payments must force a breakthrough,” said Weyts.
The Flemish government is therefore demanding penalty payments of 100,000 euros per day in a new procedure before the Court of Appeal as long as the federal government does not adjust the flight routes.
Why Does Minister Weyts Seek Penalty Payments?
According to Weyts, it is “not conceivable” that the judge will respond to this. He recalls that the federal government already has to pay 50,000 euros per week to some municipalities in the northern edge as a result of another judgment.
How Will Penalty Payments Benefit Flemish Municipalities?
Weyts wants to use the proceeds from the penalty payments to make noise-resistant investments in the affected municipalities of the Flemish Rand. “We demand 100,000 euros per day on behalf of the affected residents of Vilvoorde, Machelen, Wemmel, Grimbergen, Meise and the other Flemish municipalities that are disproportionately burdened,” says Minister Weyts. “All regions and residents of this country enjoy the benefits of the airport, so the burden must also be shared equitably.”
They have not yet received a complaint at the office of Minister of Mobility Gilkinet, according to the spokesperson for the green minister.
“This new demarche clearly fits in with Ben Weyts’ pre-electoral election strategy, while Minister Gilkinet has always wanted to continue to collaborate with Flanders on this file in full transparency and constructively.”
What Measures Has Minister Gilkinet Implemented to Reduce Nuisance?
According to the spokesperson, Minister Gilkinet has indeed taken measures to reduce the nuisance for all residents involved, “including quiet nights, which N-VA opposes.” Other measures include the introduction of variable charges and stricter environmental and noise standards in the management contract with air traffic controller Skeyes.
Weyts is also criticized within the Flemish government. Flemish Deputy Prime Minister Gwendolyn Rutten accuses her colleague of seeking to profile herself with what she believes is an “election stunt” on a technical issue.
“’If there has been no community misery for years, then I will just create it myself’, Ben Weyts must have thought when he gave orders to demand penalty payments from one government to another,” the liberal minister criticizes. “Stunting with Tax money won’t help us any further.”
