The minister of the CDA wants to make 24 billion euros available to the fund. That money goes towards measures to reduce nitrogen emissions and restore nature. But there is still no concrete target for the billions. “There is still no agriculture deal and yet the cabinet has to borrow billions on the capital market for this fund,” says Van Leeuwen.
“Why do we have to borrow 24 billion without having a real nitrogen policy,” says Derk Jan Eppink, Member of Parliament for JA21. ‘Politics is standing on quicksand, we first want to see an effect of the policy.’
At the same time, the GroenLinks MP accuses the minister of conducting a “crying story” and Esther Ouwehand (Party for the Animals) fears that too much money is going to farmers. BBB leader Van der Plas, on the other hand, is of the opinion that there is not enough money available for the agricultural sector. “A lot of fighting in the House of Representatives,” says Van Leeuwen. “Confusion everywhere”.
Good news
As many proposals have been made to amend the law, coalition parties in particular want more time for careful consideration. Even for the amount at stake, a good 24 billion euros, the parties do not want to rush. The debate will resume as soon as possible after the May break, which will last from 21 April to 8 May. “The good news is that there could be an agricultural agreement, everyone is waiting for it,” Van Leeuwen points out.
Prince’s Day
In the Senate the BoerBurgerBeweging, PvdA and GroenLinks threaten to block the billions of nitrogen. “But it won’t happen until after the summer,” says Van Leeuwen. ‘The Senate will study the plans in the coming months and this will buy time for the government. This will surely last until the day of the prince.’
According to GroenLinks MP Laura Bromet, the coalition appears to be “buying time”. That accusation is heard most often in the nitrogen dossier: CDA leader Wopke Hoekstra wants to renegotiate the nitrogen deadline, but only after a farm deal is finalized.