The Dutch agriculture minister has resigned amid a tumultuous summer time of protests through farmers over air pollution laws.
Henk Staghouwer, who held the location for most effective 9 months, introduced his departure on Twitter.
He later informed newshounds that he wasn’t the best individual for the activity and could be resigning.
The nation’s profitable agriculture sector has been in disaster since a 2019 court docket ruling pressured the federal government to slash emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia, which farm animals produce.
Thousands of agricultural staff have staged protests, blocking towns with tractors and burning hay bales alongside primary roads.
“Farmers and fishermen need certainty about where the sector is headed so that they can invest and do business,” he stated.
Staghouwer had simply returned from Brussels, the place he negotiated an settlement with the European Commission to scrap a Dutch exemption to manure spreading limits.
The Netherlands — together with Denmark, Ireland and the Flanders area of Belgium — are allowed through the EU to exceed caps on how a lot manure farmers may go back to their fields.
This is due partially to the nation’s relatively small land space.
Brussels desires to segment this exception out for the reason that Netherlands has failed to fulfill EU water high quality requirements.
Staghouwer were tasked with transitioning the field clear of extensive farming practices and purchasing out farmers to cut back overall emissions.
“I respect his brave decision,” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte wrote on Twitter.
Staghouwer’s function will briefly be taken on through former Dutch agricultural minister Carola Schouten.
