Dutch opposition party PRO backs cabinet’s detailed nitrogen plans

The Dutch opposition party PRO will support Agriculture Minister Jaimi van Essen’s detailed nitrogen plans, giving the government enough parliamentary backing for them, the party’s agriculture spokesperson Laura Bromet says.

Bromet said on Bluesky that the plans had not been weakened during detailed drafting, despite pressure from farming groups. PRO had previously backed the policy’s broad outlines but wanted assurances that the final proposals would retain their substance.

After reading a letter Van Essen sent to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Bromet said the minister was serious about nature restoration and making agriculture more sustainable. She praised the plans as a long-awaited move from discussion to action.

The announcement comes amid pressure from opposition parties BBB, JA21 and SGP, which had sought improvements to the plans for farmers and made them a condition of support for the government’s tax bill. Prime Minister Rob Jetten said on Friday that the cabinet could not take “steps backwards” on nitrogen policy without leaving the economy stuck, according to ANP.

The cabinet has sent parliament a bill replacing nitrogen-deposition targets with emissions targets for agriculture, industry and transport, alongside measures and financial support for farmers. Parliament still needs to approve the legislation, and key parts of the programme depend on further rules and implementation. Earlier coverage of the bill set out those conditions.