There has been no lack of free PR for the 'Starter package Netherlands from the lock'. Concepts were leaked to the media days before the letter was discussed in the cabinet. But many points still came as a surprise, especially because of the new perspective of the cabinet.
The bits of information that did come out were enough to provoke reactions from all sides. And perhaps that was exactly the intention: to get some final reactions before the letter is finalized. After all, it is about something, as the title of the piece already indicates. There is also the possibility that civil servants leaked the piece, as has happened more often recently with cabinet intentions, especially if they did not match what was considered official.
The Ministry of LVVN also has experience with this. State Secretary Jean Rummenie noticed this, among other things, in nature policy, where some of his employees felt that they did not have to listen to their boss, leaked policy intentions and also tried to push through pieces that go against the coalition agreement.
'Stupidity' or worries
The upcoming Starter Package has certainly got people talking. State Attorney to MOB, Greenpeace and the entire left-wing opposition. They all thought it was rubbish. Leader Johan Vollenbroek called it 'stupidity at its best'. But he probably also had unspoken ulterior motives and possibly even concerns, because the government plans to roll out a completely new licensing system, which action groups do not yet have a grip on. Greenpeace even went so far as to call the proposed policy an 'insult to the rule of law', because the organisation suspects that the government will not take into account the ruling of the Hague court earlier this year (in which the government was ordered to develop additional environmental policy).
Nice, poisonous words
The register of 'continuing uncertainty' and 'lack of courage' was also played up again by a number of opposition factions. These are nice-sounding words in the media, but also veiled and venomous words towards the livestock farming industry. When Member of Parliament Laura Bromet (GroenLinks-PvdA) says that farmers have a right to certainty, she actually means that they do not have to expect any further stay of execution. She would prefer to get rid of a great many livestock farms. Her colleague Anne-Marijke Podt (D66) means roughly the same thing when she states that the cabinet must show courage in the nitrogen policy. When they said this, they were not yet familiar with the Start Note, but the question is whether they will react more positively to the document that is now available.
View and condolence together
Many agricultural organisations, including those who have had access to draft documents of the Start Note and/or organisations whose directors accompanied cabinet members to the farewell of the Pope who died earlier this week, are more cautious and are keeping a low profile. Mark van den Oever of the Farmers Defence Force has not directly participated in the consultation, but thinks, like his opponents, that the Start Note will not be easy. In a vlog he calls on his followers to brace themselves.
Still Start Note
And although there was still a lot of speculation in some media that the cabinet would not be able to reach a decision on a definitive Start Note, did it come after all. Actually quite an achievement for the Schoof cabinet, which, according to observers in The Hague, has achieved so little.
New permits
There is an agreement on the budget and on the main lines of the desired approach. The cabinet wants to introduce an arithmetic lower limit, present a new permit system and start a regional approach around the Veluwe and the Peel. The new plans affect all sectors, not just agriculture.
In order to get started quickly, the plans include a starter package including a scheme for extensification, voluntary termination and target management. €2,2 billion will be made available for this.
New look
After the summer, a new permit system will be presented, based on a better insight into the state of nature and all associated pressure factors, it is reported. This would mean that the last nature target analyses that mainly looked at nitrogen, will be put aside. And undoubtedly the permit system will be set up in such a way that it does not fall into the legal trap of MOB and friends again. Furthermore, the cabinet is looking at the 'recalibration' of Natura 2000 areas in the longer term.
In addition to changes in legislation and regulations, nitrogen reduction is also necessary. The government wants to achieve an emission reduction of 2035% (industry, mobility and construction) and 50%-42% (agriculture) in 46 (the date that is also stated in the Climate Act) compared to 2019.
Target management
For agriculture, the government is focusing on target management, natural progression and additional deployment of resources around certain Natura 2000 areas, such as with agricultural nature and landscape management. In addition to the starter package, the government is working on a voluntary extensification scheme for dairy farming, in order to also alleviate the manure market and achieve climate and ammonia targets. €627 million is available for this. There will also be a voluntary termination scheme for farmers who want to stop, for example because they have no successor. €750 million is available for this scheme. An additional €100 million is being set aside to enable nature restoration.
In addition, the government will start working in the areas where the need is greatest (according to the 'Greenpeace ruling'). The start will be in the Veluwe and in the Peel. In the Spring Memorandum, the government has made €600 million available for this. The spending of this money will be coordinated in consultation with the provinces.
In a more extensive letter Minister Wiersma explains how the government intends to achieve the goals set for agriculture. The government seems to be torn between two ideas, because it seems to be partly sticking to nitrogen measures and partly wants to use other benchmarks, such as the state of nature.
Critical response
This has already elicited a critical response from Agractie. This organisation, like Stichting Stikstofclaim, has campaigned for further decoupling of the old nitrogen policy and, for example, for so-called 'significance strips' around vulnerable nature. These give companies near nature more certainty of doing business.
The letter's hesitation between two ideas also shows that switching to a new policy framework will certainly prove to be a difficult task. The fact that there is agreement within the cabinet not only on an arithmetic lower limit, but also on abolishing Aerius and the nitrogen policy with its critical deposition values (KDW), is in principle a hopeful sign.
The question for many companies is now whether it is all feasible and financeable and whether the measures will come on time.
© 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.
This is in response to it Boerenbusiness article:
[url = https: // www.boerenbusiness.nl/artikel/10912667/schoof-zet-hoog-in-met-nederland-van-het-slot]Schoof bets high with 'Nederland van het lock'[/url]
Hopefully there will be some movement in the hitherto deadlocked agricultural and nature consultation. It is clear that in order to come closer together, water must be added to the wine from various sides. Hopefully the will for this is present among all parties and the whole thing will be unlocked.This is in response to it Boerenbusiness article:
[url = https: // www.boerenbusiness.nl/artikel/10912667/schoof-zet-hoog-in-met-nederland-van-het-slot]Schoof bets high with 'Nederland van het lock'[/url]
Arie poor branch. wrote:Given the many lawsuits that have already been filed and that have now been announced, I have no confidence in any rapprochement from the side of nature. They are dogmatic in their doctrine, like many socialist, communist and strict religious parties. Introducing new laws and clearer criteria that cannot be challenged in court is the only solution to move forward.Hopefully there will be some movement in the hitherto deadlocked agricultural and nature consultation. It is clear that in order to come closer together, water must be added to the wine from various sides. Hopefully the will for this is present among all parties and the whole thing will be unlocked.This is in response to it Boerenbusiness article:
[url = https: // www.boerenbusiness.nl/artikel/10912667/schoof-zet-hoog-in-met-nederland-van-het-slot]Schoof bets high with 'Nederland van het lock'[/url]
In addition, I still assume that NSC cooperates in the 2nd chamber and that Holman does not blow up that party from within on agricultural matters. He could easily be on the list for GroenLinks PvdA.
You would think that common sense would kick in at some point, but it still takes a long time.
CM wrote:Because GroenLinks and PvdA are the enemies?In addition, I still assume that NSC cooperates in the 2nd chamber and that Holman does not blow up that party from within on agricultural matters. He could easily be on the list for GroenLinks PvdA.
xx wrote:Common sense. Oh, that always makes me feel uncomfortable. You can always use common sense when you are for something, but also when you are against it. It also reminds me of Gesundes Volksempfinden. Popular with our eastern neighbors until 80 years ago.You would think that common sense would kick in at some point, but it still takes a long time.
to compare a country like Israel with Russia and Romania goes too far for me GL I can be brief is a union of 3 parties CPN PSP and another party that can never be anything. I see the pvda and sp being closer together but that is my opinion
When can I actually start filling up with red diesel? (promise). Reels have to be back in the country soon!
It is with our politics like this if it were to come to elections: of all the bad parties we will have to choose the least bad. It is no different.