The not so smart SmartMove by Brussels: EUR 68 million for a kilometre based charge not coming any time soon

“The Brussels Parliament’s kilometre charge is the perfect example of the incompetence of this Brussels Parliament.” Cieltje Van Achter, N-VA group chair in the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region, does not understand why the Brussels government is pumping EUR 68 million into what she calls a political signal.

The Brussels government is investing EUR 68 million in cameras and a new app without any guarantee that the Brussels city toll and kilometre charge will be introduced in any form whatsoever. For example, 400 cameras will be installed in 2022-2023. Minister-President Vervoort could not say when these cameras would be operational.

Typical Brussels amateurism, with incomplete research and lack of consultation

According to the Brussels Minister-President, the Brussels government wanted to give a “political signal” at the end of last year that it was serious about introducing SmartMove. “But they clearly don’t mean it, because just this week, Minister Gatz declared that the Brussels government will probably no longer be able to proceed with the kilometre charge. This government has therefore handled this dossier with considerable amateurism, with incomplete research and a flagrant lack of consultation.”

According to Brussels, this comes down to a “political signal”

This is the perfect example of bad governance, responds Cieltje Van Achter. “I have been wondering for some time why the Brussels government is pinning tens of millions in European recovery subsidies on an uncertain project. Now I have my answer. According to the Minister-President, it is a ‘political signal’. It couldn’t be more hallucinatory.”

Brussels needs every euro

That so much money will be invested in the coming year in cameras and an application that will not even be used does not go over well with Cieltje Van Achter. “Brussels really needs every euro it has and can get from the European Union. We are emerging from a gigantic health crisis, the economic consequences of which we still do not fully understand today. Meanwhile, Brussels’ debt ratio is exploding, the employment rate is the lowest in the country, and we are lagging behind in terms of economic growth. In such a situation, you don’t gamble tens of millions on a ‘political signal’.”