“The very important nature conservation law is about preserving our livelihoods, but we will adapt some articles,” the Minister explained after her meeting with the committee members.
In a ruling in July, the Administrative Court held that the state’s application of the law goes against the constitution.
While the Environment Committee on Monday spent an hour and a half on forests, the nature conservation law was discussed for barely ten minutes. The Administrative Court’s ruling on the development of a house in a green zone, which the Ministry should have allowed, according to the Court, must be accepted by the politicians.
One or two articles out of 85 need to be adjusted, according to the Minister, who again assured that it was her job to push through adjustments as a priority so that nature does not suffer.
After the exchange of views, the MPs – and not only those from the opposition – were not entirely convinced that the rights of citizens would be respected. Martine Hansen from the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) had summoned the Minister to the Commission but thought that the discussion was too brief.
Hansen stated that she does not see how citizens would get more rights. Before 2018, an appeal for re-determination would have been possible, which means that a judge who had overturned the decision could also have given immediate permission. “Some people did not really like that,” Hansen noted, “so it was changed to an annulment appeal”. The CSV MP said that she does not know whether there really is a will to change the situation at the Ministry.
MP Fred Keup from the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (adr) also regrets the lack of concrete statements. It will now take “several months,” Keup bemoaned, which is “a pity” because he expected more concrete help for people living in green zones.
Meanwhile, MP Max Hahn from the Democratic Party (DP) said that one should take it very seriously when things that do not make much sense are left unresolved, and this was confirmed to him in the meeting on Monday.
No details have yet been provided, according to MP Cecile Hemmen from the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP). A healthy balance should be found, so that those who have a property in a green zone can keep it, Hemmen argued.
The committee meeting ended without further details, but the majority of MPs nevertheless seem to have confidence in the minister.
The full report on RTL Télé (in Luxembourgish):
