Open Letter
Four Democratic Party (DP) MPs have sent an open letter to Belgium's top leaders, asking them to reconsider how their planned digital road vignette could impact Luxembourg and the wider cross-border region.
Belgium intends to introduce the vignette in spring next year. The DP deputies, Marc Hansen, Corinne Cahen, Gusty Graas, and Mandy Minella, stress how closely Luxembourg and Belgium are intertwined, especially within the Greater Region, and urge Belgian authorities to consider a special arrangement for commuters and residents.
The MPs point out that the vignette would have far-reaching effects on both sides of the border. Family visits would become more complicated, cross-border shopping would likely decrease, work-related travel would be hindered, and activities organised by associations and sports clubs could also suffer.
The deputies emphasise they are not questioning Belgian sovereignty or telling regions how to set policy, but believe the unique situation in the border area warrants a targeted solution. Marc Hansen said their preference would be for Belgium not to introduce any vignette at all. But if Belgium goes ahead, they have asked for an exemption for the Greater Region.
One possible approach would be to establish a certain perimeter, a defined radius from the Belgian-Luxembourg border, within which vehicles with Luxembourgish plates would not be required to display a vignette. A similar arrangement could apply to specific roads, such as the Nationale 4, or on motorway stretches up to certain exits, with the exemption also extended to vehicles from other countries.
The MPs also recalled that during a joint meeting between the Belgian and Luxembourg governments five months ago, both sides underlined how vital free movement is for daily life, especially for the more than 50'000 cross-border workers commuting into the Grand Duchy.
On Thursday, Minister for Mobility Yuriko Backes met her Belgian counterpart Jean-Luc Crucke for talks in the border region. The upcoming vignette was expected to feature on the agenda. Backes will join RTL for an interview on Friday morning.