Brussels Parliament to Push for Mask Removal – Bouchez Announcement
Brussels Low Emission Zone: Concerns Over Potential Bus Restrictions
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Brussels City Council member Marc Bouchez expressed concerns on January 9, 2026, that ongoing coalition negotiations may result in Stib (Brussels Intercommunal transport Company) buses being subject to stricter regulations within the Low Emission Zone (LEZ), perhaps reinforcing the Good Move mobility plan.
LEZ and Good Move Plan Details
The Low Emission Zone in Brussels aims to improve air quality by restricting access for the most polluting vehicles. The Good Move plan, launched in 2020, is a thorough plan to reshape mobility in Brussels, prioritizing pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport. It involves a phased restructuring of road space and traffic flow.Details of the Good move plan are available on the Brussels Mobility website: https://mobilite.brussels/en/.
Bouchez’s Criticism and Proposed Tax
Bouchez criticized the potential restrictions on Stib buses, stating that citizens voted for increased mobility, not stagnation. He specifically referenced a proposal by Brussels coalition negotiator Yvan verougstraete to consider a tax for vehicles entering Brussels. Verougstraete discussed potential LEZ funding mechanisms in a press release on December 15, 2025: https://www.brusselstimes.com/news/belgium/29991/brussels-lez-funding-tax-verougstraete-bouchez. Bouchez argued that such a tax would contradict the desire for greater mobility.
Potential Impact on Public Transport
If implemented, stricter LEZ regulations for buses could force Stib to accelerate the replacement of older, more polluting vehicles with newer, cleaner models. Stib’s fleet renewal plan, outlining the transition to electric buses, can be found here: https://www.stib-mivb.be/en/news/stib-mivb-fleet-renewal-plan-electric-buses. Though,Bouchez fears this could disproportionately affect public transport users and hinder the overall goals of the Good Move plan.
Coalition Negotiations and Future Outlook
The outcome of the ongoing coalition negotiations will determine whether Stib buses will face stricter LEZ regulations. The current state of the negotiations, as reported by Le Soir on January 8, 2026, indicates ongoing debate over the LEZ and Good Move implementation: https://www.lesoir.be/493991/article/2026-01-08/bruxelles-les-negociations-coalition-s-enlisent-autour-de-la-zone-a-faibles-emissions. A final decision is expected by the end of January 2026.