Brussels, 19/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has set out the first approaches of an EU soil protection strategy considering soil a non-renewable resource that is coming under fire from a growing number of human activities and deserves comprehensive action at EU level. It published a Communication on Friday describing the function of soil. It is vital for vegetation, food production, water filtering, gas transformation and carbon absorption. The Communication also sets out the main dangers threatening soil (pollution from industrial waste, transport and agricultural practices, impermeability due to urban sprawl) and sets out basic ideas of world that needs to be done to ensure that soil is protected in the future from erosion and pollution and that this goes beyond the piecemeal approaches taken to date. Commenting on the new initiative, Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said, "We are now placing soil protection on a level with cleaning up our water and air. For too long, we have taken soil for granted. However, soil erosion, the decline in soil quality and the sealing of soil are major problems across the EU. This is a sustainability issue given that these trends are largely irreversible and that soil is vital for our livelihood."
The planned timetable is as follows: During 2002 the 4th Daughter Directive under the Air Quality Framework Directive will be published concerning heavy metals and a draft directive on mining waste will be proposed and by 2004 a document established on the best available techniques for the management of mining waste.
During 2003 the Commission will revise the Sewage Sludge Directive extending it to all land where sludge is applied and to other sludge and the Commission will present a Communication on "Planning and Environment the territorial dimension", addressing rational land-use planning and taking into account the need for sustainable management of soil resources; the Commission will also establish with Member States a complete picture of the extent of soil contamination throughout the enlarged European Union so that best practice and remedial techniques can be identified and put into practice;
By the end of 2004 a directive on compost and other biowaste will be prepared with the aim to control potential contamination and to encourage the use of certified compost.
The Commission points out that full application of EU air and water pollution legislation will also significantly contribute to soil protection. The Communication is a contribution to the EU Environment Council in Majorca on 23/26 May that the Spanish Presidency has decided to dedicate to soil protection in the EU.