Flemish Parliament ends electric car purchase premium
On Wednesday, the Flemish Parliament voted to end the premium for electric car purchases, a measure that will officially expire on 23 November. Most members supported the decision, though some in the liberal faction, particularly from Open VLD, expressed reservations.
The premium, originally introduced by the previous government under the initiative of then-minister Lydia Peeters (Open VLD), was intended to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles, offering 5,000 euros for new cars and 3,000 euros for second-hand ones. Available since February, the incentive generated substantial interest, with 11,590 applications—9,736 for new cars and 1,854 for second-hand models—filed by mid-October.
However, the new government believes the premium is now exceeding its intended impact, prompting the decision to abolish it. Open VLD faction leader Egbert Lachaert questioned whether ending it a month early would achieve any real savings, stating, “I understand that you want to protect the budget, but I really wonder whether you are going to save a single euro by bringing forward the end of the premium by a month.”
Lachaert also expressed concerns over climate targets, pointing out that several new policies might hinder Belgium’s ability to meet EU-imposed climate goals. “I have already seen a number of things in the coalition agreement that undermine the climate goals that our country must meet,” he warned. Lachaert also noted that the premium had significantly increased electric vehicle registrations.
The Open VLD faction’s vote was divided, with some members supporting the abolition. Maurits Vande Reyde, who backed the measure, noted he had made this position clear during the recent party leadership race.
Meanwhile, N-VA faction leader Bert Maertens voiced his party’s longstanding scepticism of the premium. "It is no secret that we with the N-VA have always been a cool lover of the initiative of the previous minister,” Maertens said, highlighting that “experts consider the premium to be a poor and overly expensive measure to reduce CO₂ emissions.” He also reassured that legal certainty for those who have applied would be maintained.
For those with active sales agreements for zero-emission vehicles, the deadline to register for the premium is 31 December.
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO BELPRESS
Related news
