GroenLinks is angry. “Apparently nothing has been done about the contracts with Germany,” said party leader Mirjam Wijnja. It turned out last week that Groningen gas has to go to Germany, as a result of standing agreements with our eastern neighbours. “We are completely done with it.” If necessary, the region will go to court, as far as Wijnja is concerned. “Groningen says ‘No!’.
The SP believes that regional administrators bend too much with The Hague. “While board agreements look like this, it looks like drivers are screwed. It’s all happened, it just keeps piling up. Stop with that naivety!”, says party chairman Jimmy Dijk, fierce critic of gas policy. “Economic interests were always the main focus. Groningers have the right to a reliable government. We have to throw it in.”
The PvdA wants the cessation of gas extraction to be laid down in law. “The government should not shirk responsibility for Groningen,” said party leader Julian Bushoff.
The City Party cannot reach it. 2022 would be the last regular gas year. Only in a cold winter would the gas tap open further. “A man a man, a word a word?”, wonders party leader Amrut Sijbolts. “This farewell present from Minister Blok is a stab in the back for Groningers. We are spat in our faces, impotent and helpless… This puts us in a rut.” The Party for the Animals speaks of ‘a disaster situation’. “With many severe tremors,” says councilor Terence van Zoelen. “We will declare an emergency if necessary.”
The city CDA also believes that gas extraction should be reduced to zero. “Then it is unfortunate to say the least that production has to increase in a mild winter,” said party chairman René Bolle.
The council meeting was still in full swing at around 9:45 p.m. Wednesday evening.