SOURCE: The Expos\u00e9
Photo by Lucas van Oort via Unsplash<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite an outcry by Dutch farmers, the European Commission (\u201cEC\u201d) has approved two Dutch plans to buy out livestock farmers. The plans to reduce nitrogen emissions in European Union (\u201cEU\u201d) designated areas of vulnerable nature have sparked heated debate and widespread protests by farmers.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Dutch ruling coalition wants to cut emissions of, predominantly, nitrogen oxide and ammonia, by 50% nationwide by 2030. It was not immediately clear how much of that target could be met using the EU-approved funds. Some 3,000 farms are expected to be eligible.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Dutch government proposed two plans worth a combined 1.47 billion euros (or \u00a31.30 billion) to reduce nitrogen emissions and meet EU environmental targets. The EC says the measures will contribute to the EU\u2019s strategic objectives relating to the European Green Deal. The scheme is directed towards livestock farmers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Under the plans, farmers will be offered financial compensation to stop farming. However, the deal isn\u2019t a \u201cwilling buyer willing seller\u201d deal, the term farmers are being threatened with is \u201ccompulsory farm buyouts.\u201d As reported by The Telegraph<\/em><\/a> at the end of March, \u201cBrussels has warned furious Dutch farmers that compulsory farm buyouts are the only way for the Netherlands to meet its EU climate targets.\u201d And Eva Vlaardingerbroek wrote in The Spectator<\/em><\/a>, Dutch farmers will be forced to either sell their land to the state now or face expropriation later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n