News Van der Wal
Nitrogen minister does not hesitate to expropriate
The cabinet is finally saying goodbye to the voluntary purchase of peak loaders near Natura 2000 areas. Livestock farms that do not want to sell are expropriated. The transition fund with more than €17 billion for purchase will come into effect on July 1, 2023. Then it must also be determined per area what the task is there.
This is stated in the outline letter on nitrogen policy that Minister for Nature and Nitrogen Christianne van der Wal (VVD) sent to the House today. What the ultimate prospects are for agriculture, fellow minister Staghouwer (LNV) is working out before the summer.
Inescapable, with escalation mechanisms
As Van der Wal emphasized to the House before, the goals must be 'inevitable'. It therefore wants to incorporate 'escalation mechanisms' in its approach to reduce nitrogen emissions and improve nature. This comes into effect when objectives threaten not to be achieved in time. She writes: "If voluntary measures - including innovation, extensification, relocation or closure - do not yield sufficient results, I consider intervention necessary. More mandatory measures such as expropriation - instruments that are already available - are then on the table, in accordance with the applicable procedures."
Expropriation explained
The letter also provides a definition of expropriation for the sake of certainty: "Expropriation is a process in which the entire property of the entrepreneur is taken from the government concerned, including any associated land. In those cases, the entrepreneur receives compensation based on full compensation for the prevention of expropriation."
According to the minister, it must be clear in advance 'when and under what conditions this mandatory set of instruments will be used'. "This applies in particular to areas where nature is (strongly) overloaded. The honest story is that it will not be feasible in every area to only assume voluntary work. When (from the area process) it appears that a peak loader has no future has more, entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to adjust or terminate their business operations through innovation, relocation and/or extensification or through voluntary stop schemes.
Area plans ready July 1, 2023
The area plans must be ready by 1 July 2023, according to the minister's timetable. The national government sets the frameworks and targets are formulated for each province (or parts thereof), which are derived from the national and international obligations in the field of nature, nitrogen, water and greenhouse gases. The PAS detectors are also included in the area plans. The commitment to inevitability also applies to the area process itself. Van der Wal: "If progress does not provide sufficient certainty with regard to the target achievement, I will intervene in the area process from the central government in my coordinating role. I will do this with priority in the areas that are in the worst condition and where the urgency is therefore greatest. to get the areas under the KDW (critical deposition value ed.)."
The transition fund with €25 billion until 2035 must also enter into force on 1 July 2023 at the latest. This includes €2030 billion until 13,8 and €2030 billion between 2035 and 3,7 for the purchase, financial impairment of land and the Water Framework Directive. From the perspective of stayers, there is €2030 billion in the pot until 4,3 and €2035 million in the period up to 943. We are currently working on the design of the fund.
What is the perspective for agriculture?
The minister agrees that farmers 'need clarity and consistency before making the necessary investments'. Van der Wal indicates that it is necessary within the nitrogen approach that there is quickly clarity for agricultural entrepreneurs about goals and frameworks and what instruments agricultural entrepreneurs have. Before the summer, fellow minister Henk Staghouwer (LNV) will therefore work out the perspective for agriculture.
Linda van Eekeres
© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.
