The Belgian government has formally objected to EDF Renewables and Enbridge’s 600MW Dunkirk wind farm off north-east France.
Belgium’s North Sea and Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt (pictured) has lodged opposition to the scheme during the public debate on the project, which started last month and runs to June.
The country and several local authorities have opposed the location of the project, which runs close to the sea border with Belgium, since 2016, including legal actions and filing complaints with the European Commission.
However, in a statement Van Tigchelt said his officials have been told the concerns were premature and should be raised during permitting.
“This moment of contestation over the location of the project has therefore arrived, during what we call the public inquiry,” he stated.
“If France does not take into account our objections regarding the location of the park, we will be able to take legal action again, before the French and European courts.”
Van Tigchelt said the project must be refused planning permission and moved further out to sea from the current 10km offshore over multiple issues, including freedom and safety of navigation, air traffic safety, rescue at sea, the marine environment and the sea view of coastal residents.
The objection takes in comments from the Flemish government, the coastal municipalities concerned, the province of West Flanders, the port of Ostend and the Rederscentrale (the professional association of shipowners).
Van Tigchelt said: “Since 2016, our country has opposed the French project aimed at installing a wind farm off the coast of Dunkirk.
“Wind turbines 300 meters high just a few kilometers from our coastline and very close to the Belgian border are anything but good neighbours.
“Both the French courts and Europe pointed out to us that the site was negotiable during the public consultation. So today we have filed our complaints against the current site.
“We are counting on France to take this into account and not issue the administrative authorisations requested for this park.”
He added: “Many fundamental Belgian interests are at stake. It would therefore be essential to build the wind farm further out to sea, as is the case for Belgian wind farms. Together with the federal government, we will do everything in our power to safeguard the rights of residents of the coast, the port of Ostend and other stakeholders.
“We will not hesitate to pursue this matter at European level if necessary.”