New federal coalition agreement

The new federal government resolutely chooses sustainable development as guideline for her policy and acting. Therefore, she will develop a federal policy concerning sustainable energy in cooperation with the Regions and Communities.

She will tackle the problem of global warming and supports the “EU 2020” target: the EU needs to cut 20% of its greenhouse gases by 2020 and 20% of the EU energy needs to come from renewable energy sources by 2020. Therefore, the federal government as well as the regional governments will develop a climate plan to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions. The federal government will also stimulate other industrialised countries to act accordingly. To ensure that the targets will be achieved, a group of national and international experts will examine the ideal energy mix on the medium and long term. The Government will support the extension of a grid for decentralized electricity production.

Investments in renewable energy such as offshore windenergy will be increased. The government will encourage investments in sparing energy and create jobs in that sector. The whole plan will be based on third-party financing from investments in sustainably building and energy-efficiency.

The government also ensures the access to biofuels and stimulates its use. In addition, the government makes it possible for new electricity producers to develop on the Belgian market and to create real competition conditions, which means reasonable prices for consumers. The government chooses for the independence of grid operators and for an autonomous management of the transmission grids. The strengthening of the competition, in the advantage of consumers and companies, will be coupled with a real social energy policy that allows private persons and more specifically persons with a modest income to pay their bill and to keep up their consumption

Private persons and companies will be encouraged to limit their energy expenses. The government will launch an extensive plan to facilitate energy efficiency (buildings, vehicles, public tender, transfer of services). She will develop a taxation policy that encourages a well-balanced environmental behaviour, whereby tax advantages will be granted to energy efficient users. For example: encouragements to install a soot filter in the car, incentives for energy saving building improvements, etc.

The government approves the product standards which allow decreasing the amount of waste at source and the energy consumption. She stimulates a more sustainable mobility, opposing the use of cars for commuting between home and work and instead stimulating public transport, carpooling, etc.

All these measures will contribute to a decrease in the greenhouse gas emissions and thus stimulate a sustainable development.

New federal coalition agreement