The Ministerial Committee for Economic Affairs and Nature Restoration (MCEN), also known as the Schoof nitrogen committee, is speeding up. At least, based on the rumours surrounding it. The Prime Minister's flu does not seem to be causing any delays in the ten ministers and two 'stassen' sub-council. However, no official announcements have been made yet.
Although this committee has only been working for three weeks, it seems that it will soon have hatched its first clutch. A familiar term for poultry farmers, but that is beside the point. The committee would like to propose limiting nitrogen emissions by 26% and also setting an arithmetic lower limit of 1 mol. Furthermore, there will be zoning around vulnerable nature. The objectives from the Nitrogen Reduction and Nature Improvement Act will be converted into effort obligations.
At first glance, it doesn't sound all that exciting. That 26% reduction has also been mentioned before and a group of Wageningen researchers thinks so a nice plan to be able to connect. Moreover, the fact that there is finally a more 'normal' arithmetic lower limit, that is nice, at least for the PAS reporters?
Billions for 1%
The discussion in the cabinet is not over yet. There is also consideration of a new purchase scheme and even the infamous Van der Wal card is said to be on the table again. But it is also a consideration of how much money you have to invest for which result. Anyone who knows that a 1% emission reduction through purchase will quickly cost €3 or €4 billion will realize that the cabinet must also remain level-headed, even though the pressure is great to make grand gestures again.
Meanwhile, clubs that are largely financed by the government itself, such as the Transition Coalition Food Minister Femke Wiersma, are also lobbying just to give in to a transformation of livestock farming.
Big clubs mostly quiet
The large agricultural organisations are mostly silent. Perhaps LTO Nederland and the NAJK are not allowed to say anything because they are involved in the consultation on the plans of the Schoof Commission. It would not be the first time. Only a few agricultural organisations have given a substantiated vision of what needs to happen.
Agraction is one of them, although it lacks a device like the larger ones do. Yet it is precisely that a solid and well-reasoned letter written to the committee. Agractie fears that the cabinet is making plans based on quicksand, because many components are not based on the correct principles.
LVVN does not want to know SSC
The Stichting Stikstofclaim (SSC) also has a critical vision and expresses this at meetings in the country. However, the SSC is officially almost completely ignored by the government, despite more than 3.200 members. The ministry of LVVN even refuses to confirm that SSC has sent a request to be recognized as an official advocate and to be allowed to participate in discussions about policy. Stikstofclaim has therefore even resorted to legal action.
Domesticated
From the ministry's perspective, this playing dumb towards critical lobbyists is perhaps understandable. It is easier to consult with more compliant organisations, such as LTO and NAJK. The latter was once a rebellious club that would enter the prime minister's tower if necessary. In comparison, the NAJK is now a completely domesticated consultative body with administrators who have much more in common with a civil servant than with a random farmer.
Status of nature here and in France
Back to the brood of the Schoof Commission. The more critical agricultural organisations are not reassured by the results. Because if what they fear comes true, many companies will have to go under. Also because nature seems to be getting an increasingly higher and more untouchable status. Perhaps that is very typical of the Netherlands today.
What is currently happening in France would not be possible here. There, the government is trying to adjust laws in such a way that farmers who unintentionally cause damage are not immediately confronted with huge consequences. Farmers can receive up to three years in prison or a €150.000 fine for, for example, ploughing up a burrow of a protected animal species. The plan of the new French Minister for Nature and the Environment is to establish lower sentences. Nature organisations are up in arms, but the plan seems to be going ahead.
Statistics versus patients
In the Netherlands, society seems to be increasingly afraid of agriculture. See also the current discussion about goat farming. The Ministry of Health wants to severely restrict this sector because it fears that this sector is a danger to public health. In doing so, it relies on research by the RIVM, which is mainly based on statistical data about people who are said to have become ill. Stichting Agrifacts went in search of the patients behind the statistics, but these people turned out to be untraceable. For the ministry that is no problem. Apparently they prefer statistics to real people.
BBB Blues and Borders
In addition to all the dilemmas and discussions this week, there was also news about increasing cracks and fissures in the ranks of the BBB. The break-up of the Overijssel States faction attracted most attention. It does not even seem to be because of differences over the party line, but because of a lack of internal discipline and the confusion of personal and political interests. Some parties and factions have designated persons to ensure that everyone falls in line, the BBB does not. In the short term, however, it is more exciting to see what will happen to the BBB when a real decision has to be made in the Schoof Commission. What can it still live with, and what absolutely not? That answer reportedly depends mainly on Deputy Prime Minister Mona Keijzer.