News Politics
Major concerns about Brussels approval of derogation
There is still no light on the horizon in the consultations between the Netherlands and the European Union about extending the derogation. Henk Staghouwer, the Minister of Agriculture, says that his concerns are "certainly not over yet. It is an exciting process." Discussions about derogation are held every week at official and political level, but the matter has not progressed. The minister will be back in Brussels on Monday to lobby. "The moment we don't get a derogation now, that means a major problem for the agricultural sector."
The 7th Nitrate Directive Action Program (AP) was assessed as insufficient by the Nitrate Committee in December. As a result, the granting of the derogation has come into question. The then Minister of Agriculture Carola Schouten (ChristenUnie) argued in Brussels for flexibility in the decision-making procedure for granting the derogation, so that the procedure can still be completed in the second quarter of 2022.
The European Commissioner has indicated that he is prepared to do so and awaits the approach of the new cabinet. The new cabinet announced in January that it would adopt an addendum to the 7th AP with additional measures in mid-February, in order to meet the objections from Brussels to still be granted the derogation. This is urgent. After the second quarter, livestock farmers can still respond to this with fertilization, or so is the idea. If the extension is not until the third quarter, the manure season is already largely over.
Back in Brussels next Monday
At a webinar by LTO, at which Staghouwer was present on Wednesday afternoon (February 16) with his colleague Minister of Nature and Nitrogen, he said about derogation: "It is a really exciting process. I have been to Brussels, I have had conversations there. Official discussions are still ongoing, every week. I will be back in Brussels next Monday. Of course I will send the message again: that we currently need the derogation, also for the transition of the agricultural sector. the moment we don't get a derogation now, that really means a very big problem for the agricultural sector."
Staghouwer continues: "I have already tried to convince the European Commissioner Sinkevičius of this, but we really have a ceiling problem. We ran into a number of ceilings, shot through them and we really have to bring that down. Then that water task is a large. We have made some proposals for that, which we are discussing with officials. And I can tell you that those discussions have not yet led to results. It has become a kind of negotiation process, as it were. have resources at our disposal, which we expect to be able to take robust measures in the next ten years. That will also have results at the water level and that will really improve things. But they say to us: "Let's see legally. We want that very clearly enforceable.' And in that game we are at the moment."
Minister promises to walk out of slippers
Staghouwer is not convinced of a happy ending. "Are my worries over? No, they are certainly not over. It is a construction - and I will not go into the content - it is really up to me and the officials to make that construction a success. I promise you that I am running wild in Brussels to get that derogation for the coming period, but that's all I can say at the moment."
Brussels wants less livestock in the Netherlands, Staghouwer confirms. "They want less emissions, less leaching, improved water quality. If we can't meet this with all kinds of measures, then we really have a problem. That is of course not only due to fewer animals, but also to arable farming in terms of leaching. "How do you deal with the buffer strips. We simply have to move towards better water quality." The minister is not currently considering animal rights. "But it's in my head. It's in the toolbox, but it's not an issue at the moment."
Linda van Eekeres
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