News nitrogen
Adema brings atmosphere and promises, not certainty
Minister of Agriculture Piet Adema did not have much good news to bring the farmers on an Agractie evening in Zwartsluis on Wednesday, although the atmosphere was open and relaxed at times. Adema promised to work for a good revenue model with supporting legislation and, as he has already reported, he wants an agricultural agreement for more peace in the long term.
The minister also had to rectify various things, including about what he might or might not have said and also about matters that he cannot arrange. "When you took office you said that you would keep your back straight towards Minister Van der Wal," said a voice from a packed room. "I didn't say that," Adema responded immediately and soberingly.
No straight back towards Van der Wal
Something also had to be clarified about the derogation. Adema: "We will not get that back. Immediately after I took office I went to Brussels to talk about it, but we have lost that derogation. This is partly due to matters such as the PAS legislation. The Netherlands had promised that it would take steps would be put, but the PAS was shot down by the judge and the Netherlands could therefore not deliver to Brussels." This reduces the political room for maneuver, or so Adema wanted to say. He also said that scrapping the Critical Deposition Value (KDW) as a measure of deposition on vulnerable nature is not an issue.
Many farmers did not understand this. Also because they think that the Netherlands can go its own way, without taking any notice of Brussels. But it doesn't work that way, Adema explained.
Minister scores with jersey and language
Despite the sometimes strong differences of opinion, the minister managed to make contact. Something that several predecessors clearly failed to do so well. That was not only due to the jeans and sweater, but also to Adema's language and attitude. Moreover, he did manage to make it clear that he takes his responsibility seriously: "When I took office, I clearly stated that the focus on nitrogen is too one-sided on agriculture. All sectors must supply. The fact is that agriculture is the largest source of nitrogen emissions."
Legislation must be right up front
Most questions from the farmers present concerned nitrogen. In that respect, fellow minister Van der Wal should have been there too. Still, Adema tried to provide some clarity. He called it very annoying and also frustrating for the farmers that there have been legal problems for so many years, "but you cannot blame the judge for making a certain ruling. Then we have not arranged it properly at the front. We must therefore provide sound solutions that are sustainable. I also agree with Johan Remkes that we have a lot of means in our legislation. I would rather see target-based management."
These words seemed understanding, but the concern about legal complications and even more uncertainty for farmers remains. Hence a pressing question about the agricultural agreement desired by Adema: "How can we conclude an agricultural agreement if so many legal uncertainties remain?"
Klaas van der Horst
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