The Nitrogen Decree that received the green light from the Flemish Parliament this week is indeed solid. Flemish Prime Minister Jan Jambon stated this on Sunday at VTM NIEUWS.
Source: BELGA
Yesterday at 3:32 PM
The decree in question finally passed the Flemish Parliament on Wednesday. The text was preceded by a critical advice from the Council of State. There are therefore fears that the Constitutional Court could annul the decree, or part of it, within a year or two. This raises the question among farmers whether it is worth investing today.
“I think we absolutely have to get started with the decree as it is today,” Jambon responds. He notes that in addition to the Council of State, the European Court of Justice has also made rulings in the sense that, once the decree has been issued, it is important to continue and not wait until the nitrogen bath is empty. While that is somewhat what the Council of State is aiming for, according to the Prime Minister, who points out that the European Court ranks above national courts and tribunals.
It is true that the next Flemish government will have to work on the file again. The current agreement aims for 50 percent less nitrogen in nature reserves by 2030. So the next government will have to start preparing for the period after 2030, it was said.
Jambon also says that he understands the farmers’ criticism of the increasing urge to regulate from Europe – grievances that he also receives from the industry. He notes that these rules are drawn up according to democratic principles within Europe – “they do not just fall from heaven” – but there must be more balance for the MP. “It is good that we in Europe are taking the lead in making the energy transition more sustainable, but there is a difference between taking the lead and being very far ahead so that we put agriculture and energy in an impossible position.”