Promoting Active Mobility: A conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Mobility, Georges Gilkinet about Renewable Energy, Pedestrian Safety, Tax Reform, and More

2023-04-23 03:48:00

The scene is set, as on weekdays, as soon as he can, Georges Gilkinet, Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Mobility takes his bike and also his walking shoes. Throughout the interview, he will also talk to us about renewable energy, nuclear power, tax reform…

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“On Sundays, I take an hour or two to walk with my wife and friends in Adeps marches to decompress, to evacuate toxins. This is crazy good. I can meet people differently. Sometimes I also go for walks alone. Our country has 11 million walkers. They are among those mobile people who must be better taken into account in public policies and better protected. »

Weak users?

“I don’t like the term weak users. I’m talking about people who practice active mobility. »

What can you do for them?

“We are launching a major survey on pedestrians on the barometrepieton.be site from this Sunday. It only takes 15 minutes to answer the questions and the public has until June 30 to do so. The results of the barometer, published in October 2023, will allow us to have indicators. We do this with the three associations that represent pedestrians: tous à pied, voetgangers beweging and walk…”

Why this survey?

“The beginning of any public policy is to measure and identify needs. The covid has shown the interest of the general public. Walking is good for mental and physical health. In town, it is the most efficient means of transport. The idea is to have more information on their needs, their reality in order to be able to better manage public policies in terms of security and lighting in particular. For example, we do exploratory walks with women in cities to identify the places that are most at risk for them.”

In your policies, how do you integrate walking?

“In accessibility to stations, walking takes priority. I also want to revise the traffic code for pedestrians to make it a street code because mobility should not be car-centric. »

A street code?

“By the end of the legislature, I will have put a new street code on the table with a modernization of the rules for respecting road safety. My role as Minister for Mobility is to help everyone make the decision. The street code will be a toolbox to give municipal or regional officials all the tools to better protect active users, pedestrians and cyclists. For example, this will make it possible to provide enough benches for the elderly on the hiking trails so that they can sit down…Or even to promote cohabitation between bicycles and pedestrians. »

Do you still have a cycling dream?

“I am working to make 2024 the European year of the bicycle. »

“Sarah Schlitz made a mistake”

The week is complicated after the Sarah Schiltz affair for the Ecolo party?

“Sarah Schlitz made a mistake, which she admitted to the House twice Public money cannot be used for personal . Like others before her, she received a sanction from the Commission for the Control of Electoral Expenses, including from Ecolo representatives. She has taken the necessary steps to have her personal logo removed where possible.

What is your next goal in government?

“I hope that we will achieve tax reform under this legislature: it must have two priorities: to make ecological choices cheaper (0% VAT on public transport, books, seasonal vegetables , on recycled materials, etc.) and better pay for work. It is necessary to increase up to 250 euros net the income at the beginning of the career when the wages are the lowest. We want to better pay entry-level workers, women, the non-profit sector, low- and middle-wage workers. It will be good for the rest of society. We work in coherence after having revalued the lowest social allowances, pensions.

Promote a financial gap between unemployment and work?

“It’s a positive incentive to work. This money can be immediately reinjected into the economy. Tax reform will be all the more essential as it will lead us towards the economy of the future and the jobs of tomorrow. It must enable more economic efficiency. If we reach an 80% employment rate, we will achieve a balanced budget. Finally, we will not increase the employment rate by preventing those who do not have a job from living with dignity.”

V.Li.

SNCB: “Don’t hesitate, we’re hiring at SNCB and Infrabel”

“Still jobs available on the Belgian rail? We continue to hire a lot of “staff. Do not hesitate to apply or search for an interesting career in rail. »

Are the new trains coming?

“We have put in place a vision, a 10-year contract with SNCB. We are looking forward to receiving the new rolling stock which is arriving continuously: the double-decker M7s which some lines badly need. This will allow us to offer greater reliability of our services. »

A better train offer on Saturday and Friday evening?

“The new transport plan will offer 2 million more km of train: 2,000 more trains within three years every week. We are also keen to develop a suburban offer from Friday evening to Saturday evening with suitable security for the young people who will use it (one to three additional hours). There will be trains until 1:30 a.m. or even 2 a.m. This measure will also have an impact on road safety and the possibility of returning home safely. »

With more guides and security guards?

“I want to preserve the train support staff. They have a role to play in terms of safety, proximity, comfort and punctuality. To this must be added the Securail agents and we are going to increase their number. »

When it comes to mobility, there is a new phenomenon. Fewer and fewer young people want to pass the license, what do you think?

“The car is a cost and uses a lot of mental energy. Today, it is possible to travel by train, bicycle or shared car. It is less heavy in terms of mental and financial burden. Moreover, more and more young people are no longer interested in a salary car but in a mobility budget which can also help to pay the loan for a house, for example. »

When you’re not working, do you still have time to read?

“A good novel on my bedside table before going to sleep: for the moment, I’m reading a philosophy book by Guillaume Martin, a velosopher, “la société du peloton”. I’m an absolute cycling fan, if you haven’t noticed. »

“Renewable energies will allow more autonomy”

As Deputy Prime Minister there is no shortage of hot issues at the moment

“It’s exciting to be able to contribute to decisions that can help fellow citizens. As an environmentalist, I want to make a fairer world and a greener earth. »

A word on pensions? Less tension here than in France?

“We were guarantors not to carry out a pension reform on the backs of recipients. We have contributed to a more dignified life for many people.”

Where is the energy file?

“We have done important work in terms of energy in order to guarantee Belgium’s supply. I remind you that before there was no medium-term vision. Now we have it. We are also continuing discussions with Engie on the future of the plants. You have to understand that we want to implement a very clear triptych: energy efficiency, the development of renewable energies and the development of storage and interconnections with other countries. Moreover, renewable energies will create the most jobs and allow the most autonomy. »

And nuclear?

“Our desire remains energy autonomy. In the transition, we assume in a pragmatic way to extend for 10 years the two nuclear reactors which offer all the safety conditions. »

And research for the new nuclear?

“We are not blocking it…but we are convinced that other solutions exist, such as green hydrogen. We are more advanced in the structuring of the hydrogen sector even if it still raises many questions today. Investors work in Liège, Ghent… We want to capture the jobs of tomorrow at this level. »

Do we really have a guarantee of having a long-term vision in terms of energy?

“We are discussing with our grid operator, Elia, how to supply electricity in 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. He tells us that for the next 10 years, depending on the evolution of demand, we are on the right track. As a reminder, I remember under the previous government, a load shedding plan. We are no longer in these disaster scenarios. »

Energy security is also an asset of economic attractiveness for Belgium?

“Indeed, security of supply is essential for citizens and for our economy. In addition, we have just adopted in Parliament a reform of the Council of State to be able to take more rapid measures for disputes relating to energy projects so that we can take a decision as quickly as possible by having all the elements in hand. It is vital to reduce procedural times for the climate, the citizen and our businesses. »

Are we not going to have a lack of space for wind turbines?

“I also have air traffic control skills. We are investing in new radars so that there is greater compatibility between air traffic control and wind placement. With the new radars, we will be able to free up space to place new wind turbines. »

V.Li.

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