23/10/2025 (Agence Europe) – The European Parliament adopted the directive on soil monitoring at its plenary session on Thursday 23 October. The directive establishes the first-ever EU-wide framework for soil evaluation and monitoring. The non-binding objective is to achieve healthy European soils by 2050. To date, some 60-70% of soils are thought to be in poor condition. A public list of potentially contaminated soils in all EU countries will be drawn up ten years after the text comes into force. “Without knowledge of the state [of the soil], we cannot protect it”, said rapporteur Martin Hojsík (Renew Europe, Slovak). The directive will establish a soil monitoring framework that includes the management of risks associated with contaminated sites in the EU. Member States will be required to report regularly to the Commission and the European Environment Agency on the state of soil in order to ensure comparability of data (see EUROPE 13619/1). (FS)