Strasbourg, 13/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament has come out, by a majority of 420 to 229, with 24 abstentions, in favour of the thematic strategy for soil protection in the EU presented by the European Commission in September 2006 (see EUROPE 9271). Going along with rapporteur Vittorio Prodi (ALDE, Italy) in Strasbourg on 13 November, MEPs subscribed to the objectives of this strategy which aims to ensure more sustainable soil use in the EU, to enhance research, to further integrate soil protection into the relevant EU sector-specific policies and to support essential measures to be taken to reverse the trend towards degradation of a non-renewable natural resource, essential for food production, economic activities and the environment.
In the main, MEPs felt it was necessary to adopt an integrated approach to tackle the multiple factors for the rapid deterioration of the soil, factors such as contamination, reductions in levels organic materials, settlement, salinity and sealing.
It is very different to the framework directive proposed by the Commission as the mainstay of the strategy. This draft direct, which is highly controversial for those who do not see the usefulness of legislating at European level in this area where there is a national responsibility, will be voted on separately on 14 November. (A.N.)