Dutch farmers protest government policy to limit nitrogen emissions in The Hague, Netherlands, March 11, 2023. Photo: PIROSCHKA VAN DE VOU/REUTERS
The Netherlands has been given the go-ahead to buy out thousands of farm businesses to meet the European Union's climate mandate.
Under a €1.47bn (£1.3bn) plan, the government could buy out entire farms located near nature reserves, and hundreds more farmers will be compensated for the voluntary termination of their activities.
This is part of a wider program of The Hague. strategy to halve nitrogen emissions by 2030 to meet EU targets.
On Tuesday, the European Commission approved the Dutch government's proposals under the bloc's state aid rules.
Brussels ruled that the buyout would not give farmers who receive them an unfair advantage over international competitors in the Single Market and thus break EU rules.
Christian van der Waal, Minister for Nature and Nitrogen Policy, previously called the scheme “extremely attractive.”
Farmers working near conservation areas will be offered 120% of their company's value if they agree to close their operations and promise not to reopen elsewhere. in the country or within the EU.
As part of this scheme, about 3,000 farmers were identified, who are considered among the most polluting in the country.
Producers of dairy, pig and poultry products will be offered 100% of their company's value if they agreed to close under a similar program. .
Farmer protests
Dutch farmers have been on a path of clashing with the government for more than a year as it grapples with the consequences of forcing its lucrative farming industry to cut emissions.
Protests against climate change targets have often led to violence: manure and burning hay bales blocked highways and supermarket distribution centers, resulting in empty shelves in many cases.
Workers clean up trash at the Bunnik exit of the A12 motorway during a farmers' action' protest against the government Photo: SEM VAN DER WAL/EPA-EFE
In March, Mark Rutte, the longtime prime minister, suffered a major defeat in regional elections as the Farmers' Protest Party won.
There is a risk of being underestimated< p>Despite its small size, the Netherlands is one of the largest agricultural hubs in the world, second only to the United States as a food producer and agricultural exporter.
Its farmers claim new climate change rules have put them first . the risk of being undermined by cheap foreign imports.
They also complained that agriculture was being unfairly affected compared to other polluting sectors such as transport.
Margrethe Vestager said the plan would result in the “voluntary closure” of those farms most responsible for nitrogen emissions. Photo: JULIEN WARNAND/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The Dutch government has committed 25 billion euros (£22 billion) to fight nitrogen. emissions, including mandatory ransoms and livestock reduction payments.
The courts have blocked a growing number of construction projects designed to alleviate the country's housing crisis until nitrogen levels are reduced.
“Improve the state of the environment”Brussels decided that the Dutch plan was not a violation of the bloc's rules. state aid rules that have been significantly relaxed as a result of the intervention of European governments during the coronavirus pandemic.
Margrethe Vestager, Vice President of the European Commission, said the plan would lead to the “voluntary closure” of those farms that are the most responsible for nitrogen emissions.
“The schemes will improve the state of the environment in these areas and promote more sustainable and environmentally sound production in the livestock sector without undue distortion of competition,” she said.
The EU approval of the scheme, which runs until February 2028, will remain in effect until Dutch farmers agree to a “final” closure of their operations.
>The exact terms of the buyout scheme will be published by the end of the month, with the government is also exploring targeting other industries amid outrage from farmers.
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