energy
Flemish Minister of Energy Zuhal Demir (N-VA) has initiated proceedings at the Council of State against a decision by the Walloon government confirming the rolling back of the counter in Wallonia until 2030. Because the Constitutional Court had already annulled the Flemish scheme, according to Demir it is only “just” that the Walloon scheme is also overhauled.
In 2021, the Constitutional Court annulled the Flemish regulation regarding the reversing counter. This happened partly after opposition from the federal government to the Flemish scheme. Minister Zuhal Demir points out that no federal procedure was initiated on the Walloon side against a similar scheme, “even after the judgment of the Constitutional Court banned the digital reversing counter in Flanders”.
It is now three years later. In October last year, the Walloon government decided to clarify its own decree and to confirm the digital reversing counter until the end of 2030 for all installations certified before December 31, 2023.
Financial advantages
Minister Demir sees this step as leverage to initiate proceedings against the Walloon system. “Why should the constitution be different for Wallonia? Why should Walloons be allowed to have financial advantages that the Flemish have been deprived of?” the N-VA minister wonders out loud.
That is why Demir submitted a request for annulment of the Walloon scheme to the Council of State last month on behalf of the Flemish government. She uses the same argument – namely the violation of the jurisdictional rules – that was used in the proceedings against the Flemish scheme. “The Walloons will not thank me for it, but the constitution applies to everyone,” said Demir.
