The European Commission announced on Tuesday 2 May that it had authorised two Dutch aid schemes worth €1.47 billion linked to the ‘National Cattle Cessation Scheme’ (LBV and LBV+) that support the permanent and irreversible cessation of specific cattle operations in order to reduce nitrogen deposits in ‘Natura 2000’ nature conservation areas.
The LBV scheme (€500 million) will consist of direct subsidies that can compensate up to 100% of the loss of asset values suffered by...