BX1 – 05-17-2024

New permit for Brussels Airport: 13 Flemish NGOs and associations take Brussels to the Administrative Court

Thirteen environmental organizations and local residents’ associations will be taking their case to the Flemish Permit Dispute Council to challenge the permit for Brussels NationalAirport, they announced in a press release on Friday.

In their view, the conditions set out in the permit are largely insufficient to protect the health of local residents and limit the impact on the climate and the environment.

Organizations and local residents are also complaining that the environmental impact report only considers a maximum growth scenario and does not examine alternative solutions, even though this is required by law.

► Read also | Brussels Airport’s environmental permit: Koekelberg will also lodge an appeal

The 13 parties contesting the permit are Bond Beter Leefmilieu Vlaanderen, Dryade vzw, Climaxi vzw, Grootouders voor het klimaat, BOREAS vzw, Sterrebeek 2000 vzw, AWACSS vzw, Solidair Tervuren Overijse vzw, Milieusteunpunt Huldenberg vzw, Wake Up Kraainem vzw, BUTV vzw, Natuurpunt Oost-Brabant and Natuurpunt Noord West-Brabant.

Flanders issued the new permit at the end of March. The limitations imposed by the Flemish government, including a maximum of 240,000 aircraft movements per year from 2032 and a 30% reduction in night-time noise pollution by 2030, have already been deemed insufficient by many Brussels and Flemish municipalities, as well as by the Walloon and Brussels regions.

► Read also | Brussels Airport: three municipalities on the northern outskirts appeal to the contentious council