“I understand that this interview raises questions, but I also understand that the nitrogen plans are very difficult for the CDA supporters,” says Paternotte in a response to de Volkskrant. ‘At the same time, it is not for nothing that we agreed in the coalition agreement that nitrogen emissions should be halved by 2030 and not by 2035. That 2030 is important, because nature is in a very bad state. I spoke to Hoekstra this morning and I did not understand from him that he wants to adjust the coalition agreement. That he gives an interview is completely fine, I have no problem with that. After all, we have freedom of speech.’
Paternotte’s reaction is remarkable, because Hoekstra in his interview with the AD indeed seemed to distance themselves from the coalition agreement. The Minister of Foreign Affairs called the government’s goal to halve nitrogen emissions everywhere in the Netherlands by 2030 ‘not sacred’. ‘The process needs to be restarted’, says Hoekstra. ‘And there are no dogmas, 2030 is not sacred to us,’ says Hoekstra.
With this, the CDA seemed to break with the agreement laid down in the coalition agreement that the Christian Democrats concluded with VVD, D66 and ChristenUnie. The nitrogen agreements are especially important for D66.
deadlock
Hoekstra pointed in the newspaper to the difficult process that is going on with regard to the nitrogen targets. ‘We’ve been working for a few months now and what’s the result? deadlock. I am grateful that Johan Remkes is trying to get things going, but that’s not enough. We have to restart the process, farmers have to become ally again. One thing is not up for discussion: nature restoration is a must. That requires a 50 percent reduction.’
The CDA member, however, argued for a more flexible attitude to achieve this reduction, although he emphasized that his party does not want to pass on the problems to subsequent generations. ‘But farmers must also be able to earn a fair living. Of course, in many places you can already achieve the nitrogen targets before 2030, but if it takes longer elsewhere, we have to take that time. Now we are nowhere, many parties are not even sitting around the table, and without the implementers you have nothing at all.’
Hoekstra also said that he would not succumb to the pressure of the farmers, who had been campaigning harshly against the cabinet’s nitrogen plans in recent weeks. ‘On the contrary: in this way we are taking a positive step forward. It is essential for us to combine two things: nature restoration and a vital countryside with a fair living for our farmers.’