Dutch agricultural organisations left a meeting with the cabinet over nitrogen policy in anger, according to De Telegraaf, which described the walkout as a fresh blow to the country's minority government. The talks took place on Thursday evening, the outlet reported.
De Telegraaf and NU both reported that the farm groups were dissatisfied after the discussion. Nieuwe Oogst reported that the youth farmers' organisation NAJK struck the table with its fist just before a deadline. The broadcaster NPO Radio 1 reported that LTO chairman Koopmans was critical of the cabinet afterwards, saying that after five months it should have been further along. The Haarlems Dagblad also reported that the farmers' clubs were unhappy with the nitrogen plans.
The reports do not give details of what was discussed or what the deadline concerned. The outlets agree on the outcome: the meeting ended without the farm organisations on board, and the cabinet's nitrogen plans remain contested.
The departure of the farmers' representatives adds to the difficulties facing the minority cabinet, which De Telegraaf framed as already having suffered setbacks. The reports name no further consequences and give no indication of how the government intends to respond.
What to watch next: whether the cabinet sets a new date for talks with the farm organisations, and whether the deadline referred to in the Nieuwe Oogst report passes without agreement.
