THE HAGUE (dpa-AFX) – After more than two weeks of protests in the Netherlands, the government called on farmers’ associations to hold talks. The farmers’ associations should accept the government’s offer of talks, demanded Environment Minister Christianne van der Wal on Thursday in The Hague. However, the largest interest group, the LTO, is refusing talks with the intermediary appointed by the government. Other organizations had previously rejected the offer.
On the night of Thursday there had been clashes with farmers again. In Blijswijk near The Hague, mobile police forces intervened and cleared a blockade of several large supermarket warehouses. 19 demonstrators have been arrested for the time being. There were also protests elsewhere in the country. Around 200 farmers with tractors demonstrated in front of the provincial administration in Arnhem. Elsewhere, farmers also set fire to bales of hay along highways.
The government wants to reduce nitrogen emissions nationwide by 50 percent by 2030, and by more than 70 percent in natural areas. According to government calculations, this could lead to the end of around 30 percent of livestock farms. The farmers reacted angrily and blocked highways and large warehouses of supermarket chains with tractors.
In order to resolve the conflict, the government of right-liberal Prime Minister Mark Rutte had appointed a mediator, namely ex-Minister Johan Remkes. But the farmers reject him because he himself is responsible for the nitrogen policy. They demand a fundamental change in the plans./ab/DP/jha