That the nitrogen problem was so difficult, Prime Minister Schoof had no idea

In 2019, Mark Rutte called the nitrogen problem « the biggest crisis » of his premiership, which had been around for nine years. His successor Dick Schoof thought: « It must be soluble. » Schoof says it on Thursday evening, in a debate about agriculture and nitrogen in the Lower House. He also says: « But I underestimated it, the reality is much more unruly than I thought. Much more unruly. »

In the large meeting room there are only the MPs who are about agriculture and nitrogen on behalf of their party, they have known for a long time. Schoof is there this evening because he is chairman of a special committee of ministers who come up with plans to greatly reduce nitrogen emissions, in a legally sustainable way.

At the end of April was that committee come with a letterin which it was announced, among other things, that the government comes up with a proposal to get the so -called ‘critical deposition value’ from the law. It revolves around the precipitation of nitrogen in nature reserves, but the government wants it to revolve around the emission of nitrogen, which then has to go down considerably. A start would also be made with measures for companies in a radius of 250 meters of pieces of nitrogen -sensitive nature in the Peel and the Veluwe.

In the debate on Thursday it appears: Schoof has been chairman of the Nitrogen Committee for months, but he still finds it complicated. With every question that seems to be a bit technical, he leaves the answer to the Minister of Agriculture Femke Wiersma of BBB. He increasingly emphasizes that the plans of the committee are only « a starter package » that « many steps » still have to be taken. He promises that there will be « hard » and that there will always be consultations « with all parties involved. »

In the agricultural debates, Wiersma is often annoyed by MP Laura Bromet of GroenLinks-Pvda, the same thing happens after a few minutes. He thinks she is « laughing scornfully » because of his answers. For a question from Ines Kostic from the Party for the Animals, which also seems to annoy him, he addresses himself, through Chamber President Martin Bosma: « I’m going to be more relaxed again, chairman. »

‘Full support’

It runs in the debates about agriculture and nitrogen almost always high on Between government parties VVD and NSC on the one hand and the BBB government party on the other. VVD and NSC, also the ministers of those parties in the special nitrogen committee, want much more radical measures than what the government now comes with. BBB finds the 250 -meter strip around the Peel and the Veluwe dramatically enough for the farmers in that area.

BBBs also believe that the VVD and NSC in the debates are too fierce against BBB minister Wiersma, in debates, Caroline van der Plas is increasingly angry about that. In the past few days, the coalition could be heard that she no longer wanted to accept that sharp, constant criticism from the other government parties. She would have addressed VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz and Nicolien van Vroonhoven of NSC, and Prime Minister also shoved.

Whether it is, or whether there is something else behind VVD and NSC: it is certain that the MPs of those parties choose a different, less attacking tone for the debate on Thursday evening. VVD member Thom van Campen regrets it, he says, that Wiersma does not yet make ‘definitive choices’ in the nitrogen policy, but he also says time and again that she can count on his ‘complete support’ if she ‘energetically comes to get the country of the nitrogen lock’. His party, he says, wants those proposals to be there before the summer, the House of Representatives must be able to debate about it around Prinsjesdag. It sounds friendly, compelling.

It is also certain: once those legislative proposals are there, the VVD will also want to change everything to make them more radical. It seems certain that the VVD and NSC will then work together with opposition parties such as the CDA and the ChristenUnie.

Even the PVV, which hardly interferes with the nitrogen debates, urges a hurry on Thursday evening. The party of Wilders also wants there to be before the summer. Part of the opposition no longer believes in it, MP Laura Bromet of GroenLinks-PvdA comes together with D66, Volt and the Party for the Animals with a motion of disapproval against Femke Wiersma. He’s hearing, she looks at Schoof who sits next to her, points in herself and says, « Only against me. »

She doesn’t look at Bromet. That doesn’t do that either.

To share

Mail the editors