A heated debate in the Dutch Parliament culminated on Thursday with accusations, emotional outbursts, and a motion of no confidence against Minister Wiersma regarding a new “arithmetical lower limit” for nitrogen emissions. The proposed limit aims to reduce the need for nature permits for projects with emissions below the threshold.

The debate was temporarily suspended when Wiersma became emotional discussing the plight of PAS reporters, farmers operating without proper nature permits for years through no fault of their own. Critics, including the Council of State, warn the new limit is legally vulnerable and could create further problems if overturned by administrative judges.

Opposition parties, led by GroenLinks-PvdA and the Party for the Animals, expressed a loss of confidence in Wiersma, accusing her of ignoring advice from civil servants and selectively using science. According to them, the minister dismissed facts and favored “chaos and gut feeling politics.”

The official Directorate General for Rural Area and Nitrogen has warned Wiersma that the new limit may create false security for thousands of entrepreneurs, similar to issues that arose with the Programmatic Approach to Nitrogen (PAS) and the “construction exemption” attempts.

Governing parties VVD and NSC are hesitant to support the motion of no confidence, but insist that the limit must be linked to proven effective nature conservation policy. They warn that Wiersma may face administrative courts if she does not connect a new nitrogen limit to proven effective nature conservation policy.

A segment of the Chamber including BBB, PVV, and SGP supports Wiersma’s intention to implement the new lower limit swiftly. Employers’ organizations VNO-NCW and Bouwend Nederland, who have struggled with difficult permit procedures for years, share the concerns.

Wiersma has refused requests to engage in discussions with Mobilisation for the Environment, an environmental organization challenging nature permits, citing their role in creating an “inhumane situation” for farmers. GroenLinks-PvdA MP Laura Bromet said that the minister increases the concerns of farmers, dismisses facts, and selectively shops in science.

NSC Member of Parliament Harm Holman indicated that Minister Wiersma has “one more chance” to present a “robust” package of measures on Budget Day in September. Otherwise, the minister would be looking at “far-reaching consequences.”