Belgium has approved a proposal that mandates all federal ministries to purchase or lease purely electric official vehicles from July 2024 onwards. The decision, which was put forward by Minister for the Civil Service Petra De Sutter, covers 15 ministers, five state secretaries, their cabinets, and all federal ministries. By 2026, only zero-emission company cars will be tax-deductible in Belgium.
The move is in line with Belgium’s aim to achieve its climatic objectives by 2030. With the majority of the country’s civil servants using public transport, the current fleet of 920 cars used by government officials is expected to shift to more sustainable options in the next few years. Of these cars, 170 are considered “function cars.”
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This push towards electric vehicles comes on the heels of several other measures taken by the Belgian government to combat climate change. Last year, the Flemish government announced its plans to ban diesel vehicles from Antwerp and Ghent, while petrol vehicles will be banned from these areas by 2035. Additionally, four EU member states, including Belgium, have urged the EU Commission to set an end date for the purchase of new combustion trucks and buses.
Brussels has also announced a new requirement for all car parking lots around the capital to have electric vehicle charging capacities. The plan is set to be implemented slowly until 2030, further promoting the use of electric vehicles in Belgium.
The decision by Belgium’s Council of Ministers is a significant step towards achieving sustainable transportation and fighting climate change. As more countries look to transition to electric vehicles, it is encouraging to see Belgium taking a leading role in this effort.
