23/08/2024 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 23 August, the European Commission approved, under EU State aid rules, Dutch support worth €50 million to compensate farmers who voluntarily close livestock husbandry sites located in nature conservation areas in the Netherlands. The objective of this scheme is to reduce nitrogen deposition caused by farming activities in overburdened Natura 2000 sites, in the light of the conservation objectives and requirements of the Birds and Habitats Directives. The aid, which will have a duration of five years, will be open to small and medium-sized livestock farmers in the Netherlands that voluntarily and irrevocably close their livestock husbandry sites where these sites' nitrogen deposition load exceeds certain minimum levels. The aid will take the form of direct grants and will cover up to 120% of the eligible costs, including compensation for loss of production capacity. (LC)