These are some of the measures presented by Zero to political parties with parliamentary seats during the discussion of the State Budget for 2023 (OE2023), according to a statement released on 14 November.


Zero considers that the State Budget for 2023 does not reflect the objectives of decarbonisation in the transport sector, so it proposed "incentives for the conversion of fleets that use fossil fuels to electric fleets or green hydrogen, accompanied by an increase in charging stations and hydrogen filling stations for heavy vehicles".


It also advocates "using part of the tax on oil products (ISP), in addition to those earmarked for the environmental fund, to support the improvement of pedestrian circulation, purchase of bicycles including electric ones, construction of pedestrian and cycling networks and networks of shared bicycles".


The association also proposed that the amount included in the Environmental Fund to finance incineration be removed and that it be allocated to support actions and projects that aim to promote the reduction, reuse and recycling of urban waste.


Zero proposes that, as of 1 January 2023, a tax must be applied to all plastic packaging placed on the Portuguese market in order to ensure the payment of this amount to the European Union.


The association justifies that 66% of plastic packaging placed on the Portuguese market each year is either sent to landfill or incinerated, and is subject to the European tax on non-recycled plastic packaging.


"This costs many millions of euros/year, which cannot be a burden for the OE [State Budget]," they said.


The generalised application of the tax to all food containers and cups, regardless of the material in which they are produced, when they are not reusable, as of 2024 and the increase of the waste management fee paid for non-compliance with targets by the managing entities of the various waste flows were other measures proposed.


For Zero, the Budget should also include, within the scope of tax benefits, "a valuation for companies that install renewable energy systems or expand existing facilities".


As for individuals, these tax benefits, it suggests, "could involve favouring collective self-consumption and renewable energy communities, reducing dependency and stabilising prices".


The deadline for parties to submit proposals for amendments to the State Budget for 2023 ended this Friday night, with the last discussion of the document scheduled for 21 November, extending throughout the week, with debate in the morning and voting in the afternoon, as usual.


The final overall vote is scheduled for 25 November.