Monday, December 1 will be a critical day for traffic management in the city Valencia. While cameras and a logistical system will be put into operation to monitor road traffic, the Low Emission Zone Law will be approved … (ZPE) will see a new chapter of the political dispute, perhaps the final one to be greenlit, with a new extraordinary plenary session held in the City Council that will try to resolve the differences between the PP, Vox, PSOE and Comromís parties.
What is at stake is more important than it seems. Valencia plays ZBE for a sum close to 150 million euroswhich represents 10% of the municipal budget, which should be returned to the EU Next Generation Funds, granted to projects related to sustainable mobility and the renewal of public transport.
If it is not launched during the remainder of the year, in addition, Europe will impose economic sanctions and the capital of Turia will not be able to receive new subsidies, which could mean, for example, a decline in the price of oil. Bus Lane It will now rise on January 1 to 8 euros. No one wants that to happen, but the political blockade is already approaching the time abyss set by Brussels.
On Monday, a new extraordinary plenary session will be held at the request of Compromís and PSPV-PSOE to discuss the new proposals, while PP and Vox continue without reaching an agreement that could have its own roadmap for what happened in the City Council CastellonBoth formations were able to agree on the ZBE, which will enter into force as of January 1, 2026.
In parallel, the local government council of the Valencia City Council approved on Friday the operation of equipment and logistics for the low-emission zone, although the decree has not been approved and cannot yet enter into force, supported by the need to monitor the steps of vehicles circulating through each control point, identify and classify labels and obtain proof of their place of registration or origin. however, They will not be able to impose fines on any driver..
December 1 was the date on which the PP-FOX government team planned for the ZBE law to come into effect. However, the lack of agreement between these two formations – reflected in the plenary session in October in which the Vox party distanced itself from this regulation and left the People’s Party alone in its defense – and subsequently between the “popularity” and the two opposition groups – the Koromomists and the PSPV-PSOE, which do not accept the initiative proposed by the Department of Mobility, led by the People’s Party – to reach a consensus on this issue, has left the decree and the implementation of the planned traffic restrictions.
“We are continuing to work on the road map that was in place. What we do is implement what was planned: More than 400 cameras “It is our duty to launch the contract that has been in the works for a long time,” said Citywide Tourism Advisor Paula Loubet, in addition to emphasizing that the information extracted from them “will be very useful to be able to obtain more data on the vehicle fleet and the decisions that will continue to be promoted in the field of sustainable mobility and the promotion of public transport.”
PSOE and Compromís Proposal
For their part, PSOE and Compromís this week launched a city-wide ZBE proposal to reduce pollution and include assistance to change vehicles for people who need it. It also includes a Phased implementation schedule For the most polluting vehicles, starting from outside the governorate and ending with residents.
The text stipulates the implementation of the 2027 regions model Parking for residents In all neighbourhoods, reserve at least 55% of places for neighbors and eliminate payment for families with fewer resources. Regarding the labels, they propose that on January 1, 2026, the A label will no longer be able to enter for vehicles from outside Valencia; And that on July 1, it will affect vehicles from outside the city; And to city vehicles, effective July 1, 2027.
Regarding vehicles marked B, he indicated that according to the proposal, it will apply to them as of January 1, 2027, specifically vehicles from outside the governorate. As of January 1, 2028, for vehicles from outside the city. For now, city vehicles will be excluded, but with a commitment that on January 1, 2027, 55% of parking spaces in city neighborhoods will be reserved for residents.
Valencia’s mayor, María José Catala, was open to considering such a proposal, but has ruled it out. Harm “immediately to many Valencians”In reference to the proposed dates for implementing these restrictions on car movement.
“All the laws of the low-emission zone, Barcelona, Madrid, and any large city, have an ‘application’ period so that people have enough time to acquire a car with these characteristics to be able to move through their city,” the first mayor stressed. “We have to allow time for families to be able to have a car with these features to move around the city. Since 2020, Barcelona has had to move forward in adapting its population to the ZBE and give that time to acquire these compounds. “And Madrid as of 2022,” he explained.