Result Statement: ‘European Union Straitjacket Policy’ | What you say

By 2030, the use of agricultural poisons should be halved. Most respondents do not consider the use of pesticides to be a public health concern. One respondent is even concerned about not spraying. “Then it will be full of dangerous thistles and nettles around schools and public spaces.” A participant who is concerned, says: ,,The use of pesticides must be reduced to zero. They are demonstrably bad for people’s health.”

Some think that banning them in a European context will still be difficult. “In the Netherlands, drugs like Roundup are already banned, but not yet in other countries. Companies that produce this must come under strict supervision.” Another respondent also believes that many products in the supermarket have been sprayed, especially if they have been imported from outside the EU.

Timmermans is also committed to nature restoration. Twenty percent of nature should be restored in eight years. A majority of the respondents do not consider this necessary. However, a large majority of the participants is in favor of more ‘green’ in the cities. Timmermans wants trees and green roofs and the city, among other things.

One respondent criticized the green plans and found them inconsistent. “Die Timmermans can sometimes look in the mirror with his biomass plants. For the so-called green energy, trees are suddenly being cut down and now he wants more greenery in the cities?”

The pesticide plans come on top of the nitrogen plans. A large majority of voters believe that the farmers are disproportionately affected by Timmermans’ plans. “Farmers have had to invest disproportionately hard due to all government measures, more than their revenue model allows. Now they are being thwarted in all sorts of other ways,” it sounds.

A small majority believes that farmers should be kept out of harm’s way in the nitrogen issue. An opponent, however, believes: “If intensive livestock farming in the Netherlands decreases, this will significantly reduce the nitrogen problem.” But another takes it for the farmers: ,,The government should compensate farmers to reduce nitrogen, instead of buying them out. Then investments can be made for agriculture with lower nitrogen emissions.”

The vast majority of voters find the timing of Timmermans’ plans inconvenient, given the crisis in Ukraine and the looming food shortage. “There is no feed without a farmer. Prices keep getting higher. This is yet another example of straitjacket politics from Brussels.”

A majority finds it worrying that the quality of agricultural land is decreasing. But willing to pay more for farm products in the supermarket, if nature can be saved in this way, are actually fewer voters. One of them: “I don’t want to pay any more for food.” †

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