Even if the government gets the Nitrogen Act through the House of Representatives in the coming weeks, the question is what the Senate will do. Tension everywhere...
According to livestock farming interest group Agractie, the government is well on its way to losing the last bit of trust that the agricultural sector still has in the government after the Groningen gas drama and the surcharge affair.
IPO chairman Drenth
According to Agractie, no fewer than 6000 livestock farms have been kept in uncertainty for more than a year, despite promises from LNV Minister Carola Schouten, about the validity of their Nature Conservation Act permit or so-called PAS notification. Time and money are lost in the administrative procedure that is probably necessary to deal with the consequences of annulled PAS legislation. Desperate, some decide to enter the nitrogen rights market to secure their Nature Conservation Act permit.
Moreover, thousands of livestock farmers will probably be frustrated for years to come by the critical deposition value in the Nitrogen Act to protect vulnerable nature in Natura 2000 areas. Even if the many hundreds of millions of euros that the government now plans to spend on purchasing livestock farms are converted into investment support for reducing ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions.
Yesterday, demonstrating livestock farmers chatted on the steps of the provincial government building in Arnhem with the responsible Gelderland deputy Peter Drenth. He is also chairman of the Interprovincial Consultation (IPO) and in that position consults with LNV Minister Carola Schouten. The province of Gelderland is also seen as a precursor to the scope of nitrogen legislation. It is not without reason that the province of Gelderland is the only province that refuses to allow the external settlement of nitrogen rights with industry and the construction world. Drenth, who is a member of the CDA, unlike the minister, actually takes the time to continue discussing a way out of the nitrogen crisis through consultation with all interested parties. He reiterated to the demonstrating livestock farmers, this time without massive tractor noise, that once granted permits must remain licensed.
Next week Nitrogen Act debate?
Next week the minister must come up with a solution to the problem of canceled or uncertain permits in the House of Representatives. Although no definitive date has yet been set for a Nitrogen Act debate announced by her. The most obvious solution, which she has already mentioned, is to find space in the voluntary purchase schemes, of which the scheme for peak loaders could in theory provide relief, since this scheme started at the beginning of November with its publication in the Government Gazette. If she does not come up with a satisfactory solution, the main question is how the CDA faction will act. House of Representatives faction spokesperson Jaco Geurts has said that the minister must fulfill her promise that this issue will be resolved this year.
Even if there is indeed clarity on this point, there are still plenty of hurdles for the government to overcome before the Nitrogen Act is adopted by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. With motions and amendments on, among other things, the redirection of a total of €1,5 billion in purchase money towards investment support for emission reduction, things are still far from settled. Because in the Senate the government will probably seek support from the PvdA and GroenLinks to gain a majority for the Nitrogen Act. These are normally the only parties that come into the picture for participation in a new government after the elections in March.
The fragmented Forum for Democracy and the PVV are not an option for the VVD, by far the largest party in the polls. Moreover, according to many, the VVD has moved to the political center with its election manifesto. However, PvdA and GroenLinks insist on far-reaching reductions in the livestock herd and will not give an inch about the critical deposition value in the legislation. Doing nothing is not an option for the VVD, spokesperson Mark Harbers has repeatedly said.
Election recess from February 12
If the government cannot reach an agreement with the House of Representatives and the Senate before Christmas, the period from January 11 to February 12 remains for a decision. The House of Representatives will then go on election recess.