The Dutch farmers’ association LTO hit the EU Parliament’s vote in favour of the EU Nature Restoration Law on Wednesday, warning that the law will only aggravate the country’s simmering nitrogen crisis.
The Nature Restoration Law seeks to introduce binding targets for nature restoration within the EU and was met with fierce criticism from right-wing lawmakers.
“LTO is in favour of nature restoration but has always said this law misses the mark. Legally laying down sweeping nature restoration targets will further lock up the Netherlands, which is already completely stuck on nitrogen,” Edwin Michiels, portfolio holder for Nature, Climate and Energy, stated in the association’s press release.
“It is unbelievable that the European Parliament ignores the signal of its own experts in this field and has nevertheless pushed through this proposal, which can count on little support,” he added.
Despite the association’s disappointment about the parliament’s vote, it nonetheless took solace in the fact that the legislative proposal had been heavily amended before the vote, pointing out that it would only apply to Natura 2000 areas and that an “emergency brake” is in place in case the law endangers areas such as food security or housing.
For years, the Dutch government and farmers’ representatives have been in a fierce standoff due to fundamental disagreements on how to lower the country’s nitrogen emissions.
Recently, LTO had already spiked the conclusion of an Agricultural Accord, which was aimed at giving a perspective to Dutch farmers willing to continue their businesses, despite previously asserting its commitment to find a compromise, leading to renewed intense farmers’ protests.
Meanwhile, left parties and lawmakers welcomed the law’s passage.
“The Nature Restoration Law has made it! The law has survived the Christian Democrats’ disinformation campaign. Great news for European nature, democracy and our food supply,” GroenLinks (GL/Greens) tweeted.
Labour Party leader Attje Kuiken (PvdA/S&D) called the law an “important step to ensure that we can all continue to enjoy a nice climate and healthy nature. Because nature restoration is about our future”.
The law must now be negotiated between the EU Parliament and EU member states.
(Benedikt Stöckl | EURACTIV.com)
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