Johan Remkes has been appointed as mediator who has to lead discussions with farmers and politicians. The House of Representatives had asked for such a mediator because of the fierce reaction from the agricultural sector to the far-reaching nitrogen plans.
Remkes will start preparing from 13 July. The idea is that the talks will start in the second half of August, agriculture minister Henk Staghouwer writes in a letter to the House.
Vice-chairman Jos Ubels of Farmers Defense Force is skeptical about the appointment of Remkes as mediator. “I do not understand what the purpose of this exercise is,” the farmer from Anderen told the ANP. “The cabinet makes blunder after blunder and now they send out a mediator who has to enter into a conversation unilaterally without being allowed to alter the goals. I wonder what should be said in such a conversation.”
He also wonders whether farmers will be willing to sit down with Remkes “for Piet Snot”. “I certainly don’t.”
The appointment of Johan Remkes is “nonsense”, says Bart Kemp foreman of farmers’ action group Agractie. “He has no confidence in the sector,” said Kemp.
Agractie has previously mentioned Elbert Dijkgraaf as someone who could take on this role, says Kemp. But the organization would rather talk to nitrogen minister Christianne van der Wal or Prime Minister Mark Rutte and states that consultation only makes sense if the content of the proposed nitrogen policy is under discussion. And that is not the case, according to Kemp. “We don’t feel like having a tea party,” he says.
In addition, he calls the intention that a mediator will start holding talks in the second half of August “richly late”.
LTO Nederland was not involved or known in the choice of Johan Remkes, but is in principle open to a discussion. This is what the entrepreneurs’ organization for farmers and horticulturists says. LTO calls Remkes an administrative heavyweight, with deep knowledge of the nitrogen dossier.
Remkes (VVD) previously led a committee that wrote two important reports on the nitrogen approach. In it he advised, among other things, to stick to targets (three quarters of the protected nature below the critical nitrogen limit and halving the nitrogen emissions) that some of the farmers are now opposing.
LTO states that during a conversation it is crucial that the “real pain points” can be discussed with the mediator and the cabinet. “So about the goals, the timeline and the way in which reductions can be achieved. If there is not that space, then a conversation simply makes no sense.”
The employers’ organization also notes that contrary to a proposal from former minister Veerman and the House of Representatives, the cabinet is now talking about a discussion leader. “In accordance with parliamentary debate and our own wishes, we assume a mediator and associated assignment.”