According to figures quoted in an article in Wednesdays edition of the Francophone daily ‘Le Soir’, less than 20% of fines imposed for aircraft noise nuisance around Brussels Airport have been collected since 2000. The publication of the figures comes as tensions rise between federal authorities and several Brussels mayors over changes to flight paths that have increased the number of flights over densely populated areas in the north of Brussels.
More than 80% of noise nuisance fines issued to airlines using Brussels Airport remain unpaid
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During the past 25 years, the authorities in the Brussels-Capital Region have imposed 1,580 fines on airlines whose planes exceeded noise limits. The total value of the fines is 32 million euro. However, only 6 million euro has actually been paid, and this is without taking into account legal costs.
Action to recover 10.8 million euro of the the unpaid fines has been halted for good, while a further 6.3 million euro are classified as “not recoverable”, although attempts to reach a mutually amicable settlement can technically continue for another ten years. An additional 8 million euro in fines remains tied up in ongoing appeals.
The figures highlight long-standing difficulties in enforcing regional noise regulations at Brussels Airport that is located at Zaventem in Flemish Brabant.
Noise nuisance from aircraft has come to the fore again this week. On Monday evening, the Federal Transport Minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Francophone centrist) said he was willing to meet again with the mayors of several Brussels municipalities to discuss noise nuisance from aircraft if they request further talks. The offer followed criticism from the mayors of Koekelberg, Schaarbeek and Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, who had expressed disappointment after a meeting with Mr Crucke’s advisers earlier that day.