23 drug defendants get jail sentences, customs officer convicted, WDP more selective investments, ADP sells stake in Liege airport, legal framework for drones and van emissions
WDP –
Presenting its 2022 annual results, Wolvertem-based logistics property developer WDP announced that it will invest more selectively because of changed market conditions, such as the sharply increased cost of capital, high inflation and continued high construction costs. “To continue creating value for our shareholders in the longer term, it is important for us as a company to adapt to these circumstances and that implies a more selective approach to new investments,” it sounds in a press release. In 2022, WDP’s investment volume was around EUR 530 million. (YDS)
LIEGE AIRPORT –
Aéroports de Paris (ADP) is threatening to sell its 25% stake in Liege airport. So reports the newspaper L’Echo. In a letter to several Walloon ministers, the company expresses fears that the airport’s future growth will be limited by an overly restrictive operating licence. They oppose a decision on the environmental permit that significantly limits activity or leads to a significant change in the economic balance of the project. ADP is not essential to the capital, but is nevertheless a key partner of Liege Airport. Earlier, cargo carrier Challenge threatened to leave Liege and move to Ostend. (MDV)
ORDER WAGES –
European automobile and truck federation ACEA predicts that more than half (53%) of the total van fleet in the European Union will be Euro 6 delivery vans by 2025. However, pre-Euro 6 vans (sold before 2014) will still account for almost 50% of total NOx emissions. ACEA argues that the new Euro 7 standard will have only a limited effect on reducing NOx emissions. The federation is therefore launching a call for fleet renewal of vans that predate the introduction for the Euro 6 standard to have the greatest impact on both pollutant emissions and CO2 emissions. (YDS)
U-SPACE –
On Thursday, 26 January 2023, EU Implementing Regulation 2021/664 entered into force to create a legal framework for the introduction of U-space in Europe, the digital air traffic control system (currently in the lower atmosphere) for drones. This is an important step forward for the further roll-out of unmanned and autonomous flights for, for example, delivery drones, cargo drones and inspection flights towards offshore wind farms.(BM)
DRUGS –
The correctional court of Antwerp handed down prison sentences of up to 13 years and fines of up to 200,000 euros to 23 defendants on Friday 27 January 2023. They were part of a criminal organisation that had imported more than six tonnes of cocaine through the port of Antwerp between November 2020 and May 2021. The court declared criminal assets of more than 30 million euros forfeited. The organisation had transport companies and warehouses and could rely on corrupt dock workers, truck drivers, transporters and haulers, among others. (BM)
DOUANIER –
The correctional court of Antwerp sentenced Maarten V.O. (38) from Brecht on Thursday to five years in prison, of which 30 months with a reprieve, and a 20,000 euro fine. The customs officer had conducted searches for containers at the behest of the drug trade. One of his contacts, Jaouad Z. (35) from Borsbeek, received thirty months in prison and an 8,000 euro fine. (BM)
