Who is Johan Remkes, the ‘problem solver’ who is now becoming a nitrogen mediator? † NOW

Johan Remkes will be the this summer “independent moderator” between farmers and politicians. This is not the first time that this ‘problem solver’ has been called upon, who often sits on advisory committees and helps politicians with stuck files. He also knows the nitrogen file well.

Last September, Remkes became informant† At that time, the cabinet formation had already been going on for more than five months and two scouts and three other informants were already worn out. In October, VVD member Remkes, now 71 years old, was ultimately involved with Wouter Koolmees (D66) in the formation of a cabinet of VVD, D66, CDA and ChristenUnie.

Earlier this year, Remkes was also called upon to help a difficult project move forward. In January he became appointed as chairman of the National Program Groningen (NPG). This is a partnership between the national government, the province and municipalities. The NPG invests in the province to make Groningen more liveable and economically stronger.

That was not the only thing he did for the province of Groningen. Remkes, born in the Groningen village of Zuidbroek, this year also chaired the investigation committee that had to examine the too expensive approach to the southern ring road in Groningen.

Remkes studied the Dutch nitrogen problems a few years ago. As chairman of the Advisory Board on Nitrogen Problems, he presented the report ‘Not everything is possible everywhere† It stated, among other things, that current agriculture in the Netherlands “is at a turning point”.

At the time, the former minister was critical of the cabinet’s approach. Too little was done to reduce nitrogen precipitation and emissions in protected nature areas and many measures were voluntary, Remkes concluded. He mentioned, among other things, the voluntary buy-out scheme for farmers. According to him, only entrepreneurs who emit too much nitrogen and are close to Natura 2000 areas should be eligible for this.

The final report recommended halving nitrogen emissions by 2030 and investments in nature restoration. Only then can the goals of sufficiently protecting nature be achieved, Remkes stated. And that is exactly what the government is now planning.

Another thorny issue in which Remkes was involved is the renovation of the Binnenhof in The Hague. That project turned out to be many times more expensive than planned, as became clear last summer.

It is perhaps not so surprising that Remkes’ sleeve is pulled so often in The Hague and elsewhere; he has been with us since 1993† First as a Member of Parliament, but five years later also as State Secretary for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment in the second Kok cabinet (1998-2002). Remkes was Minister of the Interior in the Balkenende I, II and III cabinets. He was also deputy prime minister for several months in the Balkenende I cabinet.

Remkes may seem like a good match for his colleagues in The Hague, but according to foreman Bart Kemp of farmers’ action group Agractie, the farmers are less positive about the former minister. “He has no confidence in the sector,” Kemp said on Sunday.