During the last budget preparation, Minister of Mobility Lydia Peeters (Open VLD) introduced a premium for those who buy an electric car. This amounts to 5,000 euros for a new car and 3,000 euros for a second-hand car. The Flemish government had initially provided 20 million euros for this year. If that amount was not sufficient, another 6 million euros would be used from climate resources.
READ ALSO. For example, you can apply for the much-discussed premium for an electric car and this is what you need to know
However, the latest information shows that the planned amount of 26 million euros has already been exceeded. On April 18, there were already 4,980 registrations of new electric cars and 932 of second-hand cars. If all applications are declared admissible, an amount of more than 27 million euros will have to be provided to pay out all premiums.
“Provided budgets will not be sufficient”
If applications continue at the same pace, another 28 applications will be added every day. “Taking into account the small number of inadmissible files, most applications will be approved and therefore have to be paid out,” says Flemish Member of Parliament Sofie Mertens (CD&V), who requested the figures. “The budgets provided will therefore simply not be sufficient. Where will the minister obtain these additional budgets? Will there be further savings on De Lijn, on student transport in special education, or on road safety? A promise is a promise, a reliable government must keep promises made. We have warned the minister about this several times.”
Minister Peeters: “Flemish government will provide additional resources”
In a response, Minister Peeters emphasizes that the Flemish government has already decided to honor every requested premium that is full and admissible in 2024. “This means that the Flemish government will provide additional resources, in addition to the previous 20 million euros that were allocated. .” The minister says he is satisfied that the boost in the number of registered electric cars is clearly noticeable. “Because in addition to focusing on cycling infrastructure and public transport, the transition to zero emissions in passenger cars is important to achieve our CO2 reduction goals and we also improve air quality.”
The minister also denies that savings were made on De Lijn. “The operating resources were increased to 1.2 billion euros per year, the investment resources to 300 million euros per year. In addition, more than 137 million euros will go to special education student transport, here too, Minister Peeters has continued to increase the resources during this legislature to ensure shorter journeys,” it said. The minister also clearly states that she will save “not a euro” on road safety.
Demir: “No safe conduct for ministers to simply ask for extra money”
However, Flemish Minister for the Environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA) reacts sharply to “However, that is not a free pass for ministers to simply ask for extra money. The agreement is that the liberal ministers will rearrange within their own resources. I assume that that agreement will be respected.”
