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The provinces are concerned about the nature and plans of the new right-wing coalition – including the directors of the coalition parties themselves, such as the BBB. This is demonstrated by the tour undertaken by RTL Nieuws’ political editors to all the provinces. Regional BBB members are concerned about the nitrogen approach now that the new government has allocated much less money to it.
The Nitrogen Fund (the so-called Transition Fund) contained more than 21 billion euros. But the new coalition of PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB has abolished this fund. While nature’s goals remain intact.
An informed source from The Hague reported that the VVD and the National Security Council tried to stop this, but to no avail. Due to the insistence of the BBB and PVV in particular, the fund – created by Rutte IV’s cabinet to help farmers sustain, expand or relocate – was effectively cancelled. This will now be replaced by a €5 billion spending fund.
Major concerns
The tour shows that there are fears and unrest in almost all governorates. The provinces are responsible for implementing nitrogen plans, and nitrogen emissions still need to be significantly reduced.
A Gelderland district spokesman said in response: “There are concerns. This means we cannot achieve a number of things, so we have to make different choices.” €10 billion will be needed for Gelderland alone.
In Friesland, the nitrogen policy has been “suspension”. Interesting details: The BBB representative there, Femke Wiersma, is the expected agriculture minister in the new government.
They are also in trouble in Drenthe. “You can’t pursue the same goals or the same approach with less money,” says Jesse Otter, nitrogen commissioner at the BBB.
Henk Emens, a nitrogen representative on behalf of the District of Groningen (BBB), shares these concerns: “Look, you can set very high goals, but if you don’t get the money to achieve it, it’s impossible. I can get the ideas, but I can’t finance them.”
Caroline van der Plas, leader of the BBB, clearly believes this can be achieved with less money. She did not want to respond in front of the camera, but said that she saw the cancellation of the nitrogen fund completely differently. The BBB leader has big doubts about the nitrogen fund: according to her, only 5 billion will go to the farm. As for the rest, according to her, the money was mainly intended for the purchase of farmers, and a lot of the money will go to consulting companies.
Van der Plas believes that more efforts should be made in the field of innovations, for which funds should also be provided.
Strong criticism in Parliament
Van der Plas’s position caused severe criticism from opposition parties three weeks ago during the discussion of the new negotiating agreement, as shown in this video:
In addition to politicians, nature clubs are also very concerned. Forest ranger Bart Zwiers has been managing the Drenthe Fifty Acre Nature Reserve for fifteen years. Every day on the border of Drenthe and Groningen sees what nitrogen has done to nature. “Fifteen years ago, there was flowering heather everywhere here. Big clumps. And what’s left? Just grass and berries. There’s almost nothing left. And why is that? Here you immediately see the effect of nitrogen.”
“It’s strange”
From butterflies to humming ants to yellowhammers: the entire ecosystem seems to be collapsing, says Forster Zwiers. “This is an incredible problem and we really need to do something about it.” What is his opinion on canceling the nitrogen fund?
“The goals stay intact, but the financing disappears. It’s like saying: ‘Renovate your house,’ but we don’t pay anything more. It’s weird.”