The cabinet received a letter from EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius with a message not to delay nitrogen policy. Results are awaited from the measures taken by the government.
The Commissioner points out that the Netherlands must fulfill agreements to reduce its nitrogen emissions by 2030. The critical accumulation value, that is, the maximum nitrogen precipitation that a nature reserve can handle, should not be exceeded in any Natura2000 site, he says. Natural reserves must be able to fully recover.
He also says that for farmers, purchasing programs should lead to reduced nitrogen emissions on the one hand, and a re-increase as a result of new permits on the other. It is unclear whether he was referring to PAS reporters, who, through no fault of their own, were farmers who had not yet obtained permits.
The procurement programs that the cabinet plans to offer to farmers have been submitted to the European Commission for approval. It has to assess whether there is acceptable government assistance or whether purchasing arrangements are allowed.
The letter is like an official signal that the Netherlands must adhere to the nitrogen agreements. This also applies to warnings of “unauthorized” use of extraction regulations. The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality does not want to comment on the content yet.
In his first reply, Minister Van der Wal says he received the letter last night and will now examine it first.
Source: NOS
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
