Environmental group sues government over air pollution

The government of the Brussels-Capital Region does not comply with the European regulations on air pollution, according to the environmental law group ClientEarth, which is therefore taking the Region to court, report De Standaard and Le Soir.

Five Brussels residents supported by ClientEarth today filed a complaint with the court of first instance in Brussels, requesting that the Brussels-Capital Region be held accountable for "the development of a plan against air pollution that is conform to European legislation.” ClientEarth wants to see the plan backed up by detailed measures complete with timing and impact analysis, writes Le Soir. The case can take up to 18 months.

Ugo Taddei, environmental lawyer at ClientEarth, describes the Region's efforts so far as “scandalous. Instead of addressing the problem, they are pretending it is not there," he told the newspapers.