Low-emission zone

A new regulation aimed at improving air quality has taken effect in Sofia, imposing restrictions on polluting vehicles entering the city center. The low-emission zone, in place from December 1 to the end of February 2025, prohibits the entry of vehicles from the first and second eco-categories.

Starting December 1, Sofia will implement its low-emission zone (LEZ) once again, extending its scope to include additional vehicle categories. The zone, which applies to the "small ring" of Sofia—defined by the boulevards "Vasil Levski," "Patriarch Evtimiy," "Skobelev," "Slivnitsa," and "Opalchenska"—will ban vehicles that do not meet certain eco-standards.

Today marks the end of an "era" for Sofia's low-emission zone, which ceases to operate after being introduced on December 1 last year. The zone, encompassing the central area of the city known as the "small ring," covered key thoroughfares such as "Vasil Levski" and "Patriarch Evtimii" boulevards, along with streets like "Gen. Skobelev," "Oplchenska," and "Slivnitsa" boulevard.

In a bid to address the traffic congestion problem in Istanbul, the municipality is preparing to impose a fee on vehicles entering the busiest areas of the city, as the pilot implementation is set to commence in Eminönü.

Sofia Municipality has initiated a Low-emission Zone (LEZ) within the city's downtown area, effective until February 29, 2024, as announced by the municipality's press center. Encompassing the small ring, the zone includes key thoroughfares like Vasil Levski, Patriarch Evtimiy, and Slivnitsa boulevards, as well as Gen. Skobelev and Opalchenska streets. Read more about the zone borders here.

Sofia is set to implement a Low-Emission Zone (LEZ) from December 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024, within the city's central ring. The LEZ aims to tackle air quality issues, mandated by a court decision and the previous municipal council.

Days ahead of the controversial expansion of London's road charging scheme for the most polluting vehicles, businesses in the British capital remain wary despite the mayor unveiling further subsidies.

The High Court in London ruled on July 28 that contentious plans by the city's mayor to extend a scheme requiring more polluting vehicles to pay a daily charge when driven can go ahead next month.

The Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium introduces a ban on the movement of EURO 3 diesel vehicles (with registration before 2005) into the territory of the so-called low-emission zone. 

From yesterday, owners of older, dirtier cars will be charged an extra £10 if they want to drive into London. The Mayor, Saddiq Khan, announced the "Toxicity charge" in February as part of a package of measures to clean up the capital's "filthy air".