The Flemish regional government has not yet succeeded in reaching an agreement on the nitrogen dossier before the Christmas holidays. As a result, several related decisions (such as the agricultural construction ban) will also have to be postponed.
Whatever type of nitrogen agreement emerges, it will certainly not resemble the new Dutch coalition agreement, said Agriculture Minister Hilde Crevits (CD&V). She reiterated that emissions in agriculture must be reduced. ‘We need to focus on technology, but also on controlling livestock numbers,’ she said. However, she also emphasized that farmers and livestock breeders must be compensated for this.
Crevits said that the Dutch coalition agreement, with its planned billion-euro compensations, ‘has created certain expectations in Flanders.’ Such a scheme will not happen, Crevits said. ‘But it must be absolutely clear to everyone what the impact of our decisions will be.’
A planned cabinet meeting was replaced yesterday by bilateral talks between Flemish Prime Minister Jan Jambon (N-VA) and the coalition parties – alongside N-VA also CD&V and Open VLD.
Not everyone is yet ready to reach an agreement, the Flemish newspaper De Standaard reported citing sources close to Environment Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA). More time is needed, it is also heard in Prime Minister Jambon’s circle. During the upcoming Christmas holidays, Jambon is expected to continue the bilateral talks.
Since a court ruling earlier this year, the nitrogen dossier has hung as a Damocles sword over Flemish agriculture and politics. The government previously agreed on a temporary measure and was supposed to reach a final decision before the end of the year. The delay is a major setback for Jambon and his government.
In parliament this morning, Minister Crevits said that the intended decision ‘is not yet ready to be accepted by all coalition parties. I want to come out with an agreement that I fully support. The entire Flemish government has to agree.’ From this latter statement, it can be inferred that the Flemish government could also fall over this issue.