Nitrogen Minister Van der Wal says many natural areas really can’t wait, which is why she is now primarily concerned with 2025, the middle station as she calls it. “A maximum speed until 2025 is only possible with less nitrogen emission. I am also looking at drought and other factors in order to be able to grant permits again,” she says in a conversation with political journalist Leendert Beekman.
Agricultural agreement discussion
The whole discussion on nitrogen is linked to the agricultural agreement. Discussions will be held next week to reach an agreement, ‘but then negotiations will continue as usual’, says Minister Adema.
Van der Wal says he will continue with the process and will not delay. “I’m just following the normal procedure, which I think is the wisest route.” When it comes to the target of the agricultural agreement, the nitrogen discussion is not so relevant, explains the Minister of Agriculture. ‘If we start looking at how we can give the farmer a good income model again in the future and how we can invest again with the banks helping. This is the objective of the agricultural agreement».
“Then it is less relevant whether it will be 2030, 2031 or 2032”
“Despair speaks from the eyes of the peasants, sometimes from emotion,” says Adema. From this point of view, she wants to look at the future of the agricultural sector and how to help farmers make the transition.
Johan Remkes said “something sensible” about 2030, quoting van der Wal: “He said: ‘Don’t be too dogmatic about it. Look at where you are in 2025 or maybe 2028. Maybe in 2028 we can say, ‘We are in a downward trend” when we talk about nitrogen. Then it is less relevant whether it will be 2030, 2031 or 2032″.