Agreement reached on new coalition in Groningen; VVD and GroenLinks join BBB and PvdA

Four parties have reached an agreement about a new coalition in the province of Groningen. BBB, VVD, GroenLinks, and PvdA have agreed on a new governing program. This comes five months after the previous coalition fell. Three formateurs have been in talks with party leaders since the start of the year in order to make concrete agreements.

The previous coalition of BBB, PvdA, ChristenUnie, and Groninger Belang fell on September 25 after BBB had voted against a windmill park. The ChristenUnie was most offended by this, accusing BBB of unreliable governance.

One of the first policies made by the coalition parties will be to stop gas extraction from small fields. BBB and VVD previously allowed room for this, but in the coalition agreement “Mit Mekoar,” they agreed with PvdA and GroenLinks to commit themselves to the government to end all gas extraction in Groningen and the Wadden area.

The three formateurs have stated that the trust has returned between the coalition parties. The four parties are to continue the work of the previous coalition, with the places of Groninger Belang and ChristenUnie being taken by VVD and GroenLinks.

There will be six deputies, one more than in the previous board. The red line is the goal of increasing “broad prosperity” in Groningen. In terms of damage repair and reinforcement, the province will continue to work for a “new beginning.”

Agricultural companies will be given space for expansion, with consideration given to animal wellbeing and nature. As far as the coalition is concerned, forced expropriation to develop new nature or to reduce nitrogen or greenhouse gas emissions is not an option.

There is no space for large-scale data centers or distribution centers, new above-ground pipes, and large wind turbines. Solar panels on roofs and polluted pieces of ground are a possibility.

It is being examined whether small mills of 20 meters can be allowed on farms and near villages. Nuclear energy, a sensitive issue in Groningen politics, is not mentioned in the coalition agreement. The space that the Ministry of Defense is seeking can not be at the expense of the quality of life, according to the parties.

The four parties want construction on the railway route of the Nedersaksenlijn to Enschede to begin soon, and they want the Lelylijn to follow this. Furthermore, the coalition wants to take the nomination of the Groningen landscape for UNESCO World Heritage status "one step further.”

When it comes to the asylum seekers center in Ter Apel, the parties want to continue their pleas to the government to create more reception centers outside of Groningen. They are also targeting a “schoolyard revolution” in which many schoolyards are made more sustainable.

The financial support for Groningen Airport Eelde will remain. The surcharges on motor vehicle tax will remain frozen until 2027.

The four party leaders, three of which are candidates for deputy to serve on the executive council, have said in a statement that they are pleased with the results thus far.