Nitrogen cat and mouse game and management issues at NSC

This is also evident from the results written answer of all kinds of detailed questions. Meanwhile, not yet experienced MPs also end up, through their own actions, in places where they would not have wanted to end up politically. For example, because they are sometimes too impatient.

Too impatient
NSC Member of Parliament Harm Holman gave a good example of this with his input on the nitrogen problem. He wants to solve the problems with nitrogen and livestock by starting to shrink, he said. He also wants to achieve the goals set by the old cabinet for 2030, he indicated. He may of course have that position, but his party also wants to do something about the Critical Deposition Value (KDW), the Aerius effects and the like. His colleague Rosanne Hertzberger had asked questions about this much earlier.

In De Groot's arms
This week, after Holman's input, she started talking about it again. It is also somewhat her specialty, but the way the debate went and how Holman delivered his argument made it seem as if he had forgotten for a moment what his party wants first: first a different approach to the nitrogen problem, or at least start now. shrink. Holman failed to make this clear and almost ended up in the arms of (outgoing) D66 MP Tjeerd de Groot. Of course he headed that in nicely. When Holman also confirmed his argument with a motion, the understanding at least ended with BBB leader and possible coalition partner Caroline van der Plas. Perhaps Holman will have to discuss his position again within the NSC faction and at the (information) formation table.

Nitrogen reasoning line
His colleague Hertzberger repeatedly tries to get a clear answer from the cabinet about the precise substantiation and calculation of the Critical Deposition Value, but is still fobbed off with evasive answers. That will remain the case until the last days of this outgoing cabinet. The last two Rutte cabinets adhered to a strict, cabinet-wide 'nitrogen line of reasoning', as evidenced by various documents, and do not allow this to be compromised. In her latest answers, Minister Van der Wal tries to put the ball in the court of the IPO, the administrative layer between the government and the provinces.

Profit point
Van der Wal even achieved a profit point. She will probably get a parliamentary majority for her plan to release the first billions for both the purchase of companies and the implementation of nature plans. This is probably not to the liking of the new coalition in the making, but it may also be difficult to refuse, because of the stoppers who are presenting themselves for purchase.

UvA insight not for farm, but for field emissions
Another example of the nitrogen cat and mouse game is hidden in Minister Adema's answer about the 250-meter wide buffer zones around nature reserves. This has a derogation-free zone, which is understood by most farmers as a fertilizer-free zone, but it is more. The 250 meter buffer zone must also serve as a low-emission zone. To justify this, Adema (via Wageningen Environmental Research) back to the research published last year by the University of Amsterdam into nitrogen emissions around farms (research by Albert Tietema and others). This showed that the vast majority of nitrogen emissions are deposited much closer to the company than always assumed. Then the government tried to suppress those insights. Now Adema uses the same insights to limit 'field emissions' from fertilized fields surrounding nature.  
These exercises will continue until a new cabinet is in place and, if the current formation round is not successful, they may continue.

Objection and appeal
An objection was lodged this week against the adjustment of the derogation conditions (including the buffer zones). Nitrogen Claim Foundation. This may result in legal proceedings. A number of advocacy organizations are also considering something like this, but after a possible intervention in phosphate rights. However, most advocates prefer to keep talking, which is why they decided this week, after much deliberation a pressing profession at Adema to do something about the current manure surpluses.

French protest on the streets seems more effective
Compared to all these complications, protest on the streets sometimes seems more rewarding, especially in large EU countries such as France. Although this can also set wrong precedents. After a few tough actions, the protesting French farmers (supported by colleagues from other countries) managed to remove a number of overly sharp edges from the common agricultural policy. A quick chat between a shocked President Macron and European Commission President Von der Leyen and things changed on a number of points. Perhaps these leaders from larger Member States also realize better than politicians from the city-state of the Netherlands that you cannot demand everything from agriculture and that the world does not end at the edge of the city. In the Netherlands, such an understanding seems more difficult to maintain. Just like the understanding that food does not come naturally and that the supplies thereof are really not that large.