Because Dutch farmers last year signed up on a large scale for the various eco-schemes, there was ultimately too little budget to pay out the previously mentioned amounts. Although a 'supplementary payment' will follow next year, many applicants consider it a disappointment that the earlier financial expectations cannot be met.
In recent weeks, reports of 'disappointing payments' also came from some other EU countries, but it is not yet clear whether this is due to over-subscription or whether those ministries of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) apparently spent their CAP budgets differently.
Minister Adema made clear during the monthly LNV ministerial meeting that there is such enthusiasm and interest among Dutch farmers for the new approach that the EU really should applaud and encourage that.
‘We are doing exactly what was intended with the shift from hectare subsidies to targeted eco-schemes. There was a lot of interest among the other LNV ministers about how we approached this. In that respect, it seems we are quite ahead,’ the minister told Dutch reporters afterwards.
Moreover, on Monday the Brussels meeting agenda included the evaluation of the (first year of) the 27 national strategic plans (NSPs) of the CAP. These NSPs give EU countries space to align parts of their agricultural policy with their national agricultural practice. Many LNV ministers felt the European Commission could be somewhat more flexible with national exceptions.
Even Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski somewhat agrees with them but is also bound by the legal and financial rules within the European institutions. According to Adema, ‘further relaxation’ could theoretically lead to ‘more room for own choices.’
Adema had to acknowledge that EU rules against using own tax money (‘state aid’) have indeed been relaxed for realizing Green Deal goals, but individual countries must first notify Brussels about this. Consultations with Brussels on this are ongoing. Also, within The Hague’s rules, the caretaker Dutch cabinet is not allowed to introduce ‘new policy with new money.’