Anyway: Flemish government has a nitrogen agreement

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Anyway: Flemish government has a nitrogen agreement

The Flemish government had been in crisis for weeks about the difficult file. The government met again this afternoon. “This was the most difficult file ever for the Flemish government,” Jambon opened. “Everyone here has had to put the drink of water in the wine.”

“I also doubted whether we could still reach an agreement. But this will ensure that a lot less harmful nitrogen ends up in our nature. By 2030, half less nitrogen will be dumped on nature.”

Compensation up to 130 percent

“The agreement is robust,” says Jan Jambon (NVA). “We are releasing 3.6 billion euros to compensate farmers, with amounts of up to 130 percent of the value of their farm. We also provide investment support. We are working on a design as soon as possible. There were still two bottlenecks: the netting and the assessment framework Those decisions have now been made. There will be a public inquiry with an environmental impact report. If that report does not adversely affect the objectives, the strict permit threshold for agriculture will disappear in 2025.”

Demir: “finally clarity”

“This dossier, together with the manure action plan that was also agreed this week and the common agricultural policy are three important dossiers for agriculture and nature, and for this government,” says the Flemish Minister for the Environment. Zuhal Demir (NVA). “This day has taken a good turn.”

“Sound Perspective”

“This is important for the future of agriculture and nature in Flanders,” says the minister of agriculture Joe Browns (CD&V). We had a compass with nature restoration, but also a perspective for the agricultural sector. This also required a legally secure framework, and that is what we have achieved today. It’s been a tough few weeks, but the agreement is finally there. We can live up to that perspective from 2025. Farmers can now start investing if they can demonstrate that there is no negative impact on the environment.”

“Agreement was our duty”

“Not reaching a nitrogen agreement would have been disastrous for agriculture, nature and industry,” says the Flemish minister Bart Somers (Open VLD). “This offers hope for sustainable agriculture. We have found a fair deal for the red companies that emit a lot of nitrogen. It is important that we work on a sustainable reconciliation between agriculture and nature. It is also important that we have been able to avert a permit freeze .”

“There are people behind every number”

“I appreciate how since Wednesday the energy has been found within the government to reach an agreement,” says Flemish minister Hilde Crevits (CD&V). “This was important: behind every figure there is a family, a farm. The battle we fought was one for perspective for those people. I am also confident that this agreement will pass the environmental test.”

READ ALL ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR A NITROGEN AGREEMENT HERE



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