Soil protection

22.3.2021

Question for oral answer  O-000024/2021
to the Council
Rule 136
Pernille Weiss, Maria Arena, Martin Hojsík, Manuela Ripa, Alexandr Vondra, Idoia Villanueva Ruiz
on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Soil is a non-renewable resource vital for life on the planet. Soils provide important ecosystem services, food production and are key enablers to achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal. Effective soil protection is crucial to addressing land degradation and erosion, while preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment, human health and natural resources. Soil protection can also strengthen the territorial, economic and social cohesion of the Union. In this context, we would welcome answers from the Council to the following questions:

1. In the context of the EU’s objectives on climate change and biodiversity protection, does the Council overall support a common EU legal framework for soil protection at EU level and will it commit to preventing further soil degradation and to treating soil as a common resource and an ecosystem?

2. What actions is the Council considering in order to facilitate a future EU legal framework for soil protection?

3. How is the Council going to facilitate achieving the EU’s commitments related to soils, as well as the wider international commitments on the issue?

Submitted: 22.3.2021

Lapses: 23.6.2021