Dutch opponents of the proposal say that the law will ‘shut down the Netherlands’ and that ‘unprecedented legal consequences could arise.’ Timmermans disputes this and claims that, in fact, opponents are the ones ‘shutting down the current situation.’ A delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) parliamentary committee visited Brussels yesterday afternoon on a work trip that had been organized weeks ago. They were received by EU Commissioners Timmermans, Sinkevicius and Wojciechowski and held discussions with several Dutch Members of the European Parliament.
The work visit, due to the current situation, was entirely focused on the debate over the Nature Restoration Law. Moreover, the Dutch visit coincided with the annual policy review that Climate Commissioner Timmermans conducted with the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament. There is significant opposition to the proposals stemming from the European Commission’s Green Deal philosophy.
Timmermans told the agriculture committee MEPs that they cannot continue to bury their heads in the sand. He urged them to face the facts and reality: agriculture and food supply are under threat. Not because of the European Green Deal or the Nature Restoration Law, but due to climate change, air pollution, drought, and contaminated soil and groundwater.
Timmermans did not speak off the cuff but read from a prepared script, delivering a carefully planned speech.
He asked agripoliticians to come out of their trenches, especially the conservatives and Christian Democrats who want to reject the nature law outright. He reiterated that he and his colleagues Sinkevicius, Kyriakides and Wojciechowski are willing to discuss ‘any possible compromise,’ but ‘you need to present your wish lists first.’
The large committee meeting room at the European Parliament in Brussels was filled to the last seat, not only with MEPs and faction staff but also with dozens of farmers from various EU countries attending the debate. This gave the impression that Timmermans had entered the lion’s den, but among EU politicians and the audience, he also received support and agreement.
Timmermans said the Commission remains committed to the direction and substance of the three currently circulating climate and nature laws. Doing nothing and waiting it out, he called irresponsible. He accused the ‘refusers’ of gambling with the future of agriculture and horticulture ‘against better judgment’ ahead of the European elections in just over a year. Not back to the drawing board, but forward to the negotiation table, he urged the hesitant.