News Nitrogen
Timmermans does not consider the BBB proposal to be a fairytale note
The initiative memorandum of BBB and JA21 'Get out of the nitrogen crisis quickly' is not a fairytale memorandum (as D66 MP Tjeerd de Groot called it), says European Commissioner Frans Timmermans after the two-hour conversation he had today with Caroline van der Plas in The Hague. The BBB leader has, as she says, 'received a lot of confirmation about what the line is from Brussels and what we are doing to ourselves here'. She had a 'very positive feeling' about the conversation.
Timmermans: "I am very encouraged that BBB wants to comply with European regulations, but they do not think that what is currently available is optimal." He says about the recently presented initiative memorandum: "It is indeed not a fairytale memorandum, they have really done a good job He has also offered that they can look at the note in Brussels 'to improve it with technical information'. "I will not give a stamp of approval", he emphasizes.
No criticism of Rutte
He also indicates that in order to make it into legislation, there must be a majority in the House of Representatives. Timmermans: "What matters to me is that we do something as quickly as possible. That is possible if there is a majority in the House of Representatives. That can be the proposal of BBB or of the cabinet." As far as nitrogen policy is concerned, the European Commissioner has no criticism whatsoever of the team of ministers. "I think that the cabinet is making a great effort and I have no reason to criticize Rutte."
According to Timmermans, disruption is no reason for postponing nature restoration measures. "Disruption in society is also caused when nature reserves are in such trouble that they pose a threat to public health." Incidentally, in Brussels, if the targets are not met, there are 'no plans for notice of default or other punitive measures'. The fact that BBB does not want expropriation is, according to Timmermans, 'their right, that is not what the European Commission is about'. He underlines that in Europe there are also 'many opportunities to support farmers towards more sustainable agriculture'.
Van der Plas also wants to dispel the fact that she is against nitrogen measures in themselves. "Nitrogen is part of the problem, but that depends very much on the nature reserve. They are only ramming on nitrogen. We have to see how we can restore nature, with what measures. Nitrogen will be part of that (...) The Netherlands is locked, because such strict nitrogen targets have been set that the judge says: what you are doing now is not possible." The politician also finds it problematic that ammonia (especially agriculture) and nitrogen oxides (traffic, industry, Schiphol, etc.) are lumped together. "I have put down: stop the discussion about 2030 and remove expropriation. I think that will bring much more peace. I also said that to Wopke Hoekstra (CDA)."
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.
