Constitutional Council blocks removal of low-emission zones for drivers in France

Low-emission driving zones (ZFEs) are to remain in urban areas after a parliamentary vote to end them was struck down after a review by France’s Constitutional Council on May 21.

The council ruled that the amendment abolishing the zones was insufficiently related to the wider “economic simplification” bill in which it had been inserted - striking it down on procedural grounds.

The move is a major setback for right-wing MPs and motoring groups who had hailed the April vote as the end of the scheme.

ZFEs (zones à faibles émissions) were introduced in 2019 and expanded under the 2021 Climate and Resilience law. 

They require vehicles entering certain urban areas to display a Crit’Air sticker, ranking their emissions from 0 (fully electric vehicles) to 5 (diesel lorries), and progressively ban the most polluting models, particularly older diesel cars.

Constitutional challenge succeeds

The abolition of ZFEs had been added to the simplification bill through amendments tabled by MPs from the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) and conservative Les Républicains (LR).

But the measure faced immediate legal doubts because the bill itself focused largely on reducing administrative burdens for businesses.

The Constitutional Council was called to review the bill by Socialist and Green MPs, as well as members of President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist bloc, including former prime minister Elisabeth Borne.

The judges did not rule on the environmental merits of the zones themselves but struck down the amendment as a ‘legislative rider’ (cavalier législatif).

RN MP Pierre Meurin, one of the leading opponents of ZFEs, accused the council of “reintroducing” the scheme against public opinion and pledged to continue efforts to abolish it through a separate bill.

Drivers’ association 40 millions d’automobilistes also criticised the decision, saying “the fight against ZFE does not end here”.

Pollution concerns remain

Supporters of the zones say they are necessary to reduce harmful air pollution in large cities.

According to Santé publique France, air pollution contributes to more than 40,000 premature deaths annually, alongside respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.

Environmental groups argued that ending the zones would have led to increased pollution exposure, particularly in urban areas already struggling with nitrogen dioxide emissions linked to road traffic.

However, the scheme has faced mounting criticism over its social impact. Opponents argue that lower-income households are disproportionately affected because they are less able to replace older vehicles.

Although the law technically requires all urban areas with populations above 150,000 to introduce a ZFE from 2025, only 25 metropolitan areas have implemented them so far, often with exemptions and uneven enforcement.

Several local authorities have also criticised the state for insufficient financial support and delays to automated enforcement systems.

The Constitutional Council also struck down amendments weakening France’s “zero net artificialisation” (ZAN) land-use policy, which aims to limit urban sprawl.