Flemish government not satisfied with federal plan to resolve Brussels Airport nuisances

The consultation platform set up by Belgian Mobility minister Georges Gilkinet to find solutions to the nuisances generated by Brussels Airport has “serious shortcomings,” according to Flemish Environment minister Zuhal Demir.

Among other things, the platform is insufficiently representative, Demir told a committee of the Flemish Parliament on Tuesday, adding that Flemish minister-president Jan Jambon has written to the federal minister to this effect.

The platform was set up in connection with the European Commission’s proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment. All stakeholders were to be able to enter into dialogue, including on the issue of noise pollution around the airport. It has met six times since 2021, but still has no rules, and “it is not clear how the opinions are drawn up,” Demir noted.

Some parts of the territory are underrepresented, at the expense of Flanders, the Flemish minister said. The more exposed municipalities, such as Steenokkerzeel, Machelen, Zaventem and Kortenberg, would not receive sufficient attention, she noted.

It should therefore come as no surprise that attendance at the platform's meetings has fallen from 90% to 60%, according to Demir. A seventh meeting is scheduled for Thursday.

^{#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE}