Flemish Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder (N-VA) announced on Tuesday that the government will begin work immediately on implementing a road tax for foreign drivers using Flemish roads.

The system will be based on a digital vignette, with revenue expected to be generated by 2027. However, before it can be introduced, an agreement with Wallonia must be reached.

The coalition agreement of the new Flemish government includes provisions for the vignette, which aims to ensure that foreign drivers contribute to the upkeep of Flemish roads. "Flemish citizens and lorry drivers already pay, so it is only fair that foreign drivers should as well," De Ridder said in an interview with Radio 1. She also reassured that the new system would not result in increased fees for Flemish residents.

This isn't the first time a Flemish government has proposed such a scheme, but previous plans faced opposition, particularly from neighboring countries like the Netherlands. "That was for the traditional vignette system, whereas now we are looking at a digital collection method," De Ridder clarified.

Negotiations with Wallonia are a priority, as the southern region is also considering introducing a toll sticker. The Flemish government aims to expedite the process, with plans to raise 130 million euros annually from the digital vignette starting in 2027.

Investments in Public Transport

De Ridder, who also oversees public transport in Flanders, announced significant investments in De Lijn, the region's public transport company. This includes a one-time allocation of 400 million euros to purchase new buses and trams.

She also outlined a "solid growth path" for the company's operations, with an additional 125 million euros set aside by 2029. How these funds will be allocated has yet to be determined, but De Ridder emphasized that the investments will be aligned with demand while ensuring rural areas are not neglected. Photo by Piet Van Den Heuvel, Wikimedia commons.