The buy-out of so-called ‘peak polluters’, which was supposed to be agreed upon this month, will be delayed until at least the end of May, as the corresponding buy-out scheme has not yet been finalised, sources close to the matter stated on Monday.

The Dutch government has grappled with the nitrogen issue for years, as the country is forced to reduce industrial and agricultural nitrogen emissions to comply with EU directives. The buy-out of so-called ‘peak polluters’, which concerns approximately 3,000 industrial and agricultural companies, was announced in November.

“[The] questions are mostly technical in nature and are about implementation,” a source close to the matter said, according to De Telegraaf. The source added that Brussels has shown “no signs” of outright rejecting the scheme.

The buy-out scheme for peak polluters intends for the relevant agrarian and industrial companies to either completely give up business, move, or become more sustainable by significantly reducing emissions. In return for accepting the offer, the companies would receive up to 120 % of their listed market value as compensation.

However, the EU has taken exception because this practice does not comply with the bloc’s state aid regulations. Dutch nitrogen minister Christianne Van der Wal is expected to try to respond to the EU’s technical concerns to reach an agreement.

The government’s handling of the nitrogen issue has been the subject of fierce debate in parliament the past few weeks as cracks are showing even within the cabinet concerning deadlines for reducing emissions.

A proposed nitrogen fund, which would invest €24 billion in facilitating the buy-out of farmers and ensuring remaining farmers operate more sustainably, was heavily criticised due to the cabinet’s lack of decisiveness and unity.

(Benedikt Stöckl | EURACTIV.com)

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