Not only are there doubts as to whether provinces can do this, but there is also uncertainty as to what exactly the goals are and when they should be implemented. According to political journalist Sophie van Leeuwen, the cabinet, through Van der Wal, is behaving “as if nothing was wrong”. “Provinces are on edge, the coalition is still bickering and unable to agree on nitrogen policy, but Nitrogen Minister Van der Wal continues stoically with a new mantra: 2025.”
That year is one of the milestones for Johan Remkes’ nitrogen report, and it looks like the focus will be on that for the foreseeable future, thinks Van Leeuwen.
Go to work
But where Van der Wal thinks he can provide a clear statement, PvdA member of parliament Jaap Stalenburg from the province of Friesland thinks everything is starting to look like a fair. “This cabinet has been completely excluded,” he says, while he dares to say that CDA leader Hoekstra would probably be diametrically opposed to Van der Wal’s statements. “He wants to suspend everything.”
“Everything Starts to Look Like a Carnival”
He points out that the province may not be in trouble, ‘but be able to implement the policy here now?’, he continues. “Negotiations on a new council deal will begin in Friesland in the coming weeks, in which the Labor Party will likely have to have difficult discussions with the BBB on nitrogen policy.”
Nothing concrete
Stalenburg is particularly annoyed by the lack of concrete policy. For example, he thinks that the political cadres are unknown and that many words come from The Hague, but no concrete politics. “We actually need these clear frameworks, so that we know clearly what we’re making deals on.”
For this reason, the province of Friesland now seems to favor the year 2035 for halving nitrogen emissions, because it complies with the law. ‘Obviously we want the law to be fully respected, but ultimately we have to come up with something,’ continues Stalenburg. ‘Zone processes are going well at the moment (…), but if we can reach good deals while the year is 2035, then so be it.’