The Flemish government has just been proven wrong by the court again. In 2023, it was condemned for its failing manure policy and ordered to rectify it, under penalty of fines. It persisted in its obstinacy and contested the payment of these fines. In vain: it is time to change course and finally implement policies that protect Flemish nature and public health.
The court again rules in favour of the environmental movement
On 24 March 2026, the court reprimanded the Flemish government once more. This ruling follows a previous conviction in the Nitrate case from 2023, and a second conviction from 2024 that linked non-compliance to a fine of 1,000 euros per day. However, the government ignored both rulings. The Flemish government initiated legal proceedings to prevent the payment of the fines, but has now been proven wrong for the third time: the court ruled that the fines are indeed owed.“Minister Brouns continues to resist an effective adjustment of the manure policy,”statesElias Van MarckefromDryade. “This culpable neglect is detrimental to our health, the quality of Flemish water, and our nature.”
Water quality in Flanders remains appallingly poor
The European Nitrates Directive prescribes a threshold value of 50 mg of nitrate per litre. In Flanders, this limit was exceeded at more than one in five measurement points last year. Nitrate pollution in surface water harms our nature and waterways. A recentreportfrom the Flemish Institute for Nature and Forest Research identified nitrate pollution as one of the main threats to our protected nature.
Imminent European condemnation
The European Commission put Flanders on notice in 2023 for violations of the European Nitrates Directive. Flanders has not responded to this notice, prompting the Commission to take Flanders to the Court of Justice. There is a strong likelihood that Flanders will also be condemned by the Court of Justice.
Little prospect of improvement
The previous manure action plan (MAP6) lasted four years, from 2019 to 2022. A limited number of additional measures were taken at the beginning of 2025, but we are still waiting for the final manure action plan (MAP7).Sofie BrackefromBond Beter Leefmilieupoints out that “the draft of this MAP7 was deemed inadequate by the Flemish administration this year. Nevertheless, the Flemish government seems to want to leave this inadequate manure action plan unchanged until the end of this year.Irresponsible,” she concludes.
An effective and ambitious manure policy is inevitable.
Ideally, manure policy fits within a comprehensive vision for sustainable agriculture that operates within ecological limits and provides a dignified response to farmers on how best to reduce the livestock population. Land-based livestock farming is necessary to achieve our climate and environmental goals and to permanently restore water quality in Flanders.