The cabinet will present a “plan of action” this month, which will clarify how it will deal with the Council of State’s ruling that construction projects may no longer automatically receive permission to temporarily emit nitrogen.
Minister Christianne van der Wal (Nature and Nitrogen) speaks of a “setback”. According to her, the highest administrative judge is “crystal clear”. The statement means that “you really have to emit less nitrogen and really improve nature”.
According to Minister Hugo de Jonge (Living), the decision of the Council of States does not mean that no more building can be done. “The country is not going to lock down.”
But it does mean a delay and is a setback for construction, he says. “It also means that building in a part of the Netherlands will become much more complicated, namely that part that is closer to nature reserves or that part where there are fewer opportunities for nitrogen compensation.”