News phosphate rights
EU still responds to bottlenecks
The emergency questions asked by Annie Schreijer-Pierik, CDA Member of the European Parliament, about the bottlenecks in dairy farming have yet to be answered by Brussels. In an early response, Brussels already announced that this was a Dutch issue, but Schreijer-Pierik calls that an open door.
To prevent sustainable family businesses from failing, Schreijer-Pierik is investigating the options for a temporary exemption. The condition for this is that the total manure production ceiling is not compromised. Schreijer-Pierik draws attention to this by means of written questions to the European Commission (EC). The answers must be given within 21 days (so no later than 24 July).
Last straw?
She shoots the group of approximately 800 dairy farmers to help those who otherwise cannot survive. This is due to the phosphate rights system, which came into effect on 1 January 2018. A bottleneck scheme has been set up within the system, but this is very limited and does not apply, for example, to the latent stable space.
Farm reported on Wednesday 11 July that Brussels considers this a Dutch issue. This means that help will only come when Dutch politicians decide to intervene. "That's an open door," says Pierik. "This limited communication does not change that. It is by no means an official answer to my very specific urgent questions to the European Commission."
Schreijer-Pierik says that the EC must indicate whether the proposed options are permissible and possible. Otherwise, they must indicate whether there are other options for the Netherlands, if they remain within the framework of the derogation decision and state aid regulations. "It will then be up to the Dutch government and the members of the House of Representatives to take concrete decisions about a solution to the problem."
Utilization of other phosphate space
What are Schreijer-Pierik's proposals? "I want possibilities for utilizing the remaining phosphate space in general, but also specifically for the warm remediation of pig farming. This in combination with limited skimming of residues or through a limited, temporary exchange between the sectors." These are good possibilities, because the state aid rules often do not apply when additional environmental benefits can be achieved, Pierik supports her proposals.
Carola Schouten, Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, gave during the last phosphate debate to go to Brussels again to find out what can be done about the bottlenecks. However, it was clear from her words that there is only a small chance that anything can be done at all. Perhaps Schreijer-Pierik can set something in motion.
Click here to view the emergency questions.
Herman van den Pol
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