Some parties in the House of Representatives reacted critically to the government’s decision to halt the downsizing at Schiphol in the short term. With this reduction next year, the cabinet wanted to ensure Schiphol better complied with noise standards.
“85,000 people took to the streets on Sunday to demand politicians tackle the climate crisis. This message today. He is completely deaf,” says party leader Esther Ouwehand of the Party for the Animals. She wants air traffic to be halved. “Give the locals and the rest of the Netherlands a healthy future!”
Infrastructure Minister Harbers says there are many interests surrounding Schiphol that the cabinet must take into account. “The judge in the Netherlands deemed a reduction next year acceptable, but the European Commission now says we must go through the international process before the number of flights can be reduced.”
commercial printing
GroenLinks-PvdA also disagrees with the decision. This party believes that the government has bowed to the commercial interests of the aviation industry. “By bowing to commercial pressure, the government is placing these interests above the health and welfare of local people,” says Habtamu de Hoop MP.
Harbers denies that the decision was made because of the US threat to not allow KLM flights to America.
Harbers: “It’s not that far yet. The USA announced a first step that could affect KLM. However, when the EU made it clear that it believed that things could not be done the way we wanted, we decided to suspend the reduction plan for a short time.”
Jan Boomhouwer, board member of the “Right to Protect Against Aircraft Harassment” (RBV) foundation, thinks the US “power play” is scandalous. “Residents here are significantly disadvantaged and the impact on them is catastrophic,” he told NOS.
According to him, this can only happen if there are too many “complaints” from the EU and the USA. Boomhouwer: “The ink on the decision had long dried, and even then the case was reversed.”
The quietest plane
Minister Harbers is working on a permanent solution for fewer flights that complies with international law. “We don’t want to suffer legal damage, and I don’t want this to fail again,” Harbers said.
Until then, excessive flying and noise will be tolerated. KLM has promised to reschedule flights between 12am and 6am and offer its quietest aircraft at night.
Campaign group Greenpeace is keeping the government’s long-term promise and describes today’s decision as shocking. But Greenpeace says voters also have a say in this story. “The new government will need to work hard to elevate citizens above the aviation industry. Voters can vote next week.”
Schiphol’s future is also reflected in the climate sections of the election manifestos. In this video, Nieuwsuur lists what different parties want:
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.
