The negotiators for the three parties involved in the talks for the formation of a new Flemish government discussed governance and the environment on Monday. The talks on the environment included a discussion on the thorny issue of nitrogen emissions, a topic that has often led to discord between the parties that form the outgoing Flemish coalition government.
Today (Tuesday 20 August) the negotiating teams from the Flemish nationalist, Christian democrat and socialist parties will discuss education and animal welfare. Chairing the talks is the Flemish nationalist Mathias Diependaele (photo).
Much of Monday's talks were given over to discussing the issue of nitrogen emissions. How nitrogen emissions should be reduced was a source of much discord between the Flemish nationalists and the Christian democrats in the outgoing coalition. The outgoing Environment Minister Zuhal Demir (nationalist) had drawn up a plan to reduce nitrogen emission in our region. However, the Christian democrats with the outgoing Environment Minister Jo Brouns felt that the plan was too one-sided against farmers.
Sources close to the man leading the Flemish coalition talks Matthias Diependaele (nationalist) believe that Monday’s talks went well. Certain more difficult issues will be discussed be discussed at a meeting planned for next week. Today (Tuesday) the talks will focus on education and animal. No talks will take place tomorrow (Wednesday).
According to the current schedule, the parties' negotiating teams will meet again on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and next Monday. Next Tuesday, the negotiators are expected to enter ‘the home straight’, with discussions focusing on the major bones of contention between the parties.