Andalusian Court Overturns Málaga Low‑Emission Zone Restrictions

The Andalusian High Court (Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Andalucía) annulled a key part of Málaga’s low‑emission zone (ZBE) regulation that exempted vehicles registered in the city, ruling the exemption discriminatory and contrary to EU principles of free movement and market unity. The decision leaves in place the €200 fine (reduced to €100 for early payment) for vehicles without an environmental label that are not registered in Málaga, while the city has one month to lodge an appeal to the Supreme Court. If a higher‑court review is sought, the current enforcement remains unchanged.

Mayor Francisco de la Torre defended the ZBE, stating it is “totally legal” and an EU‑mandated obligation, and warned that without the zone the city could lose European mobility funding. The administration is now considering how to modify the ordinance—either by extending fines to all vehicles or by removing the exemption entirely—to comply with the court’s ruling.