Region Calls for Amendment to the Groningen Act

The bill deviates from the government's earlier commitments

During the week of March 30, the House of Representatives will debate this proposal, which includes key elements from the government’s “Nij Begun” response. According to regional authorities, the bill deviates in crucial respects from the government’s earlier commitments. The province, councils water boards are therefore calling on the House of Representatives to make targeted amendments. 

“The government has promised Groningen a generational approach to damage, safety, and recovery. Then the law must also provide the generational certainty to which residents are entitled. That is only possible with a law that offers certainty to residents who have borne the consequences of gas extraction for years and a law that is not non-binding,” said King’s Commissioner René Paas on behalf of the region. The letter to the House of Representatives addresses six crucial points for the region. The three main points: 

1. Turn promises into firm guarantees

The current legislation states that the government must promote broad prosperity and sustainability. According to the region, this is too non-binding. The generations in Groningen who have been dealing with the consequences of gas extraction for decades must be able to count on firm, enforceable commitments.
The region wants the government’s goals for broad prosperity and sustainability to be enshrined as performance obligations. The current duties of care are too non-binding and can be interpreted differently by future governments. To achieve these goals, the law must guarantee that sufficient funds will be made available annually until at least 2055.

2. Establish a reciprocal and equitable consultation structure

The bill gives the national government control over consultations with regional authorities. The region believes this is wrong, because it shares responsibility for implementing the Social and Economic Agendas and other components of Nij Begun. That is why the region advocates for reciprocity: consultations must also be able to take place at the region’s initiative, and its input must be given serious consideration. The region objects to the current interpretation under which consultations take place only at the initiative of the national government. The region demands that consultations be reciprocal and that regional governments determine their own representation.

3. Prevent residents from being left to bear the costs of future damage

The proposal sets a threshold of 60,000 euros for simplified damage repair, under which residents opt for “actual repair.” However, this choice now comes with a final waiver: future damages will no longer be compensated. According to the region, the condition that residents waive future damage claims if they opt for “actual repair” is unfair and unacceptable. In the hardest-hit councils , future damage cannot councils ruled out; residents there should not be left with irreparable damage. 

The Groningen Act must provide clarity and certainty

The region believes that these amendments bring the Groningen Act in line with the realities of the area and with the promise of a generational approach. The region wants one thing: a reliable government that provides clarity and certainty for residents and businesses. They have lived in uncertainty for far too long. The joint letter was drafted on behalf of the province, all Groningen councils, the North Drenthe councils , Noordenveld, and Aa en Hunze, and the Noorderzijlvest and Hunze en Aa’s water boards.