Onderstaande brief van EU-commissaris Janez Potočnik, geschreven en verstuurd vóór de persconferentie van staatssecretaris Bleker op 17 juni jl. over het alternatief voor de natuurcompensatie van de Westerschelde.
"I am aware of media reports to the effect that an agreement has been concluded between the European Commission and the Dutch authorities regarding the flooding of the Hedwigepolder. I wish to make it clear that there is no such agreement and that the European Commission does not enter into agreements with Member States regarding the implementation of EU environmental law.
I did indeed take part in a meeting on 14 June at the request of Secretary of State Dr. Bleker. The purpose of the meeting was an informal exchange of views.
I confirmed during the meeting that EU nature legislation leaves Member States with some flexibility on how to achieve the conservation objectives set out in European law. I also stressed that time is running out for the Netherlands to achieve a good conservation status of estuaries in the Western Scheldt and that any alternative solution to the flooding of the Hedwigepolder would need to be based on a sound scientific assessment and deliver good conservation status of estuaries.
A technical analysis of any concrete proposal from the Netherlands by Commission services would be needed before the Commission would be able to comment on the substantive merits of any eventual alternative proposal. Any alternative must be scientifically demonstrated to be a valid alternative for the specific estuary type of habitat. It must also be realistic in terms of the timing of its implementation and it must cover 100% of the necessary restoration measures. I note that past searches for alternatives had repeatedly failed."
Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for Environment