Statement during debate on the Wadden Sea in the House of Representatives

For the sake of completeness, we are sharing the text that the relevant officials from these five local governments sent to The Hague:

"On January 25, during the Wadden Sea Committee debate, you will discuss, among other things, the power cables and governance for the Wadden Sea. Your debate touches on the powers and responsibilities we hold in this region. As such, we, as northern regional leaders, would like to jointly share the following points with you, as the elected representatives involved, in preparation for this debate:
 

• The Wadden Sea is a unique natural area that we must protect. As wind farms are established in Eemshaven, careful consideration must be given to how they can be realised in the most nature-inclusive way possible, using the most environmentally friendly techniques. 
• The Wadden Sea is under pressure due to factors such as sea-level rise caused by climate change and increasing economic activity, such as gas extraction in and around the Wadden Sea and the North Sea. Wind farms are currently the only truly scalable method of energy generation capable of rapidly and significantly reducing CO2 emissions on a large scale. By choosing wind energy, this unique natural area is protected from climate change. 
• The installation of power cables places an additional burden on the Wadden Sea region, making it important to assess the overall impact of economic activities on the Wadden Sea. Salt and gas extraction place a heavy burden on the Wadden Sea, which is all the more reason to investigate the cumulative effects on the Wadden Sea. In doing so, we must explore which existing economic activities that impact the Wadden Sea can be phased out.
• To meet the Netherlands’ 2030 CO2 emission targets, the wind farms in the Wadden Sea are of national importance. Eemshaven plays a crucial role in this energy transition by connecting the wind farms and bringing their power ashore at Eemshaven.  
• Groningen needs 7.1 GW of renewable energy to meet demand, as outlined in the Cluster Energy Strategy. This means that much greater ambition is needed than the 4.7 GW currently planned for the Northern Netherlands. This is not only crucial for Groningen’s future agenda and the economic outlook for the Northern Netherlands following the end of gas extraction, but is also of national importance.
• Local governments support the approach currently proposed by the State Secretary in the VAWOZ letter. We call on the Minister to involve local governments as equal administrative partners in the decision-making process aimed at identifying a preferred alternative. 
• The onshore connection of wind farms, both now and in the future, must be done right the first time. By collaborating with stakeholders on the onshore connection of wind farms north of the Wadden Sea, we hope to realise sufficient offshore wind capacity within the specified timeframe. In this regard, we believe it is important to include wind farms 5 Middenberm and 6 in the studies. 
• It is crucial that the national government develop a robust investment package for the region that has substantial resources at its disposal. This fund creates momentum to truly make a difference for the Wadden Sea region: at least half of the 2 billion euros that the government has committed to the region in its letter must be invested in the conservation and development of the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site and in other relevant environmental interests. 
• The regional parties prefer to facilitate the unloading at Eemshaven via an eastern route through the Wadden Sea. We do not favor the western route, which passes through Schiermonnikoog and Ameland, among other places.
• The northern regional governments believe that the national government should immediately seek direct contact with our German neighbors to explore the possibilities for unloading at Eemshaven Oost, and, should this encounter any obstacles, to lobby our German neighbors in favor of unloading at Eemshaven Oost.

We would like to thank you in advance for taking our input into consideration during the debate and would be happy to speak with you personally if you have any questions about this.
 
Sincerely,

Ineke van Gent, Mayor council
Eltjo Dijkhuis, Alderman council Hogeland
Herman Beerda, Member of the Executive Board Noorderzijlvest Water Authority
Sietske Poepjes, Provincial Executive Member of Fryslân
Fleur Gräper, Provincial Executive Member of Groningen.