Belgian Government Split Over Zaventem Airport Noise Plan

Government Split Over Airport Noise Plan  
Expatica, Netherlands
 
1 March 2004


BRUSSELS – Belgian Minister Bert Anciaux has angered
government colleagues by announcing a new plan to cut
aircraft noise at Zaventem airport outside of Brussels
without cabinet backing.

Anciaux unveiled his new plan last Friday.

The complex scheme would see aircraft using more
runways at Zaventem and flying in and out of the
airport on a number of different routes.

The basic logic behind the plan is to reduce noise
pollution under the airport's main flight paths by
spreading flights over a wider area.

Anciaux on Friday insisted his new plan was in line
with instructions he had received from the cabinet to
sort out the aircraft noise problem after Belgium's
most senior court, the Conseil D'Etat, blocked an
original government proposal on the issue last
December.

But Belgian Justice Minister Laurette Onkelinx on
Sunday made it clear that she believed Anciaux had
overstepped his remit and should have sought cabinet
clearance before unveiling his plan.

Onkelinx said on Belgian television that her
colleague, "had not behaved correctly" over the
question.

She said Anciaux had been summoned to a special
cabinet meeting on Wednesday to explain himself and
she hinted that she could even ask the Transport
Minister to resign over the issue.

 

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