Flemish government crisis deepens over lack of agreement on nitrogen policy

The crisis in the Flemish government has deepened even further, as the majority parties still have not found an agreement on the nitrogen dossier and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) strategic plan. Flemish prime minister Jan Jambon arranged an emergency meeting with the party leaders earlier on Friday, actual negotiations will continue after the spring break.

"The three parties have expressed here that they really do want to make an agreement," Jambon said after the meeting. "But everyone realises that this is not a simple matter." He added that a new composition of the government is not on the agenda.

According to sources of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) talks will continue on the basis of Jambon's compromise proposal that he presented on Friday afternoon. But this was rebuffed by the Christian-democratic party (CD&V).

The nitrogen policy is Flemish Environment minister Zuhal Demir's attempt to reduce nitrogen pollution in Flanders. It contains a list of polluting farms that must close by 2025, which the other parties oppose. The nitrogen policy is tied to the approval of the European CAP, ​ on which many Flemish farmers rely for subsidies.

^{#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO YORICK JANSENS}