Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment (ENVI) are calling for an EU-wide framework for soil protection that fully respects the subsidiarity principle.
A draft resolution calling on the European Commission to develop this common framework was adopted on Friday 16 April by a large majority (73 votes in favour, 7 against, no abstentions) (see EUROPE 12665/6).
Respecting subsidiarity would avoid the pitfall of the Soil Protection Directive proposed in 2006, but which the Commission had to withdraw in 2014 due to blocking by the EU Council.
MEPs urge the Commission to include measures on prevention and/or minimisation of soil sealing, with the aim to reach the “no land degradation” objective by 2030 and “no net land take” by 2050 at the latest.
The Commission and Member States are invited to contribute effectively to reducing the overuse of synthetic fertilisers, in particular nitrogen.
MEPs want to see more research, innovation and funding in the area of soil.
They welcome the launch of the Horizon Europe mission for soil health and food. They insist that the multifunctional role of soil should be adequately addressed in research and that existing funding programmes should be adapted to reflect this approach.
MEPs stress that healthy soils are essential to achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal.
Prepared by the six major groups in the European Parliament, the draft resolution is a political message as the European Commission consults on the future strategy on soil protection, expected in the autumn (see EUROPE 12649/12) and intends to present its ‘Zero Pollution’ action plan in May.
It is accompanied by oral questions to the Commission and the Council of the EU to find out their intentions in a European Parliament debate, possibly in April. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)