ANP
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NOS News•today, 14:28
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Prime Minister Rutte has again had a conversation with farmers about the government’s proposed nitrogen policy. The conversation took place at the dairy farm of the Bongers family in Kelpen-Oler in Limburg. Seven farmers were invited.
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“It was a constructive conversation,” says Thieu Bongers. “He has listened carefully. I hope there are still opportunities.”
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Karin Bongers agrees with the cabinet that something should be done about nitrogen emissions, but not in this way. “Ten years ago, the government stimulated dairy farmers to grow. If they had done something about the nitrogen problem then, it wouldn’t have been so big now.” She now finds the demands too harsh and too sudden.
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Rutte said that the parties had not really come closer together. “In such a long conversation with a small group you can go into depth. Where are the irritations towards the government? But I don’t expect that I can remove them with three visits.” According to Rutte, concern and anger still prevail among the farmers.
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There will be a third conversation in ‘small circle’ with Rutte. A larger round of discussions will follow in August, supervised by Johan Remkes. Details about this are not yet known.
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