Controversy Surrounds Soil Protection within EU

Soil protection remains high on the European Commission’s agenda, despite the lack of progress that has been made in achieving it.  The European Commission has been fighting for legislation to protect the soil since 2006 when they sought to instigate a Framework Directive to work towards this objective.  However, this Framework Directive has met with some resistance from Malta, the UK, Austria, the Netherlands, Germany, and France, as they are concerned about how this proposal would affect the administration, as well as what it would cost to attain this goal.  These areas also are unsure if current EU law would benefit from the Framework Directive.
 
This past Monday, soil protection was once again brought to the forefront of conversation when European Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik showed support for the proposal.  While many delegations believe that there should not be EU soil legislation since it is not a shared resource like water or the air, Potočnik argued that the soil plays a large role within biodiversity and affects climate change.   Potočnik also revealed that poor soil management can lead to pollution within the air and the water, thus effecting all EU members.   

Potočnik acknowledged the delegations’ concerns about the expense of soil protection; not taking action would cost a great deal.  An assessment of expenditure done by the Commission shows that each year €38 billion is spent in Europe to pay for the degradation of soil.  Additionally, a report recently published by the EU executive reveals that if soil biodiversity is not cared for properly, groundwater conditions could worsen, climate change could become more paramount, and agricultural production could be met with some difficulties. 

While there are those delegates who are not looking to put the proposal for the Framework Directive into action, others feel strongly that there should be EU legislation for soil to accompany the laws already in place that deal with the water and the air, since none currently exist.  The most recent progress report of the Spanish EU Presidency evidenced the delegation’s sentiment. 

However, delegations are losing hope.  Delegates expressed that it might be time to search for alternatives to protect the soil that do not involve legislation.  The Spanish EU Presidency mentioned that the proposal could not be made into law amidst so much disagreement.  It appears that no matter what the outcome of the proposal, some sort of action must be met in order to reach the needs of the environment that also takes into account the monetary needs of the people. 

Author: Katie Graziano | Climate Action

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