“The European ambitions on biodiversity and climate in the framework of the European Green Deal are sky-high, but there is absolutely no thought given to the implementation and the consequences on the ground. When people can't commit to goals because they can't pay the bill or have no alternative, they drop out. A stronger voice for regional governments in the drafting and implementation of European legislation is key to making our citizens, businesses and farmers allies in the transition towards a cleaner economy.” Eddy Van Hijum, Member of the Council of the Province of Overijssel made these remarks during a European Committee of the Regions (CoR) plenary debate on 'A place-based approach to the Green Transition'.
Sharing the reality on the ground, Van Hijum explained how the province of Overijssel in the Netherlands, there is currently great political and social unrest about the implementation of the Habitats Directive. "The national government has translated the Habitats Directive into national policy to bring down the nitrogen emissions in Natura2000 areas below a certain threshold value. My province has a total of 24 Natura areas. The approach taken by the national government has serious consequences for these areas, essentially locking out all forms of economic activity, and necessitates far-reaching cuts in the agricultural sector in particular – a cornerstone of our regional economy. These proposed measures have led to serious concern and protest among our farmers. Not because they don’t want to become more sustainable, but because their future has suddenly become uncertain. Their income, the value of the land, financial securities and continuity of the (family) business are under pressure."
Van Hijum called for a more meaningful engagement of LRAs. "In the Marseille Manifesto, we called for stronger cooperation in the implementation of European legislation as we know our regions and are close to citizens and entrepreneurs. However, we local and regional authorities are not being heard enough. Furthermore, there is no real 'impact assessment' when determining centralized goals. Local governments are seen as mere agencies in the service of centralized goals, instead of being given real space to meaningful decision-making at the local level."
In this regard, van Hijum called for:
• a place-based approach to the ambitions from the Green Deal, both in implementing existing legislation and new proposals such as the recently Nature Recovery Law;
• to create more scope for regional governments in taking a place-based approach while implementing the Birds and Habitats Directives, so that socio-economic interests can be adequately taken into account – in line with the ambitions of the Rural Pact.
• engagement of regional governments in shaping the future of Europe, and for concrete proposals to promote active subsidiarity and embedding a clear regional dimension to impact assessments – in line with the CoR’s Resolution on the Conference on the Future of Europe.