Constitutional Court Blocks Scrapping of France’s Low-Emission Zones

Overview

• The Conseil constitutionnel annulled 25 articles of the government's 'simplification' bill on Thursday and specifically struck down the provision that would have abolished low-emission zones (ZFE) and loosened rules on soil artificialization.
• The court grounded its ruling in the doctrine of 'cavaliers législatifs,' finding the ZFE repeal and ZAN changes lacked a sufficient link to the bill’s original purpose and were therefore procedurally invalid.
• The decision immediately leaves ZFEs legally in force nationwide while producing concrete resistance on the ground, with motorists in Hérault saying they will keep driving polluting cars and at least one mayor, Laurent Jaoul, telling local police not to issue fines.
• European context matters because ZFEs exist across 14 countries with more than 300 zones and a wide range of enforcement methods; France’s fines are relatively modest at about €68 for individuals and €135 for heavy vehicles compared with some neighbors.
• The ruling has reopened a heated political debate over the court’s role versus parliamentary authority and could produce legal challenges, renewed parliamentary fixes, or local clashes over enforcement that will determine how the decision affects daily life for drivers and low-income residents.