A narrow majority of conservatives and right-wing voters today voted against measures for soil health and sustainable agriculture.
Brussels (OTS) – In the summer of 2023, the EU Commission presented its long-awaited soil directive. Instead of tangible protection measures for sealed, compacted and increasingly erosion-affected soils, the proposal only contains a voluntary monitoring program, with no consequences if the soil is contaminated. Today the Agriculture Committee voted on its opinion on this matter and it even falls short of the Commission’s plans.
Sarah Wiener, Green MEP and shadow rapporteur for the Soil Directive in the Agriculture Committee, comments: “According to the Commission, 60 to 70% of the soil in the EU is in poor condition: erosion, compaction and sealing are taking one of our most important resources from under our feet. Given these facts, it is disappointing that the Commission was unable to come to a strong soil directive in the summer. But what is even more disappointing is that today Parliament’s Agriculture Committee has even worsened the proposal.”
Wiener on the negotiation results: “All attempts to promote soil health or at least make monitoring mandatory have been blocked by a narrow majority of conservatives and right-wingers. The European People’s Party (EPP) immediately wanted to reject the directive as a whole. This is probably an attempt to appease the farmers in view of the weeks of protests. The fact that agriculture has no basis for survival without healthy, fertile soil is not discussed: Without sensible soil protection, there can be no sustainable agriculture and no secure food supply. That’s why we Greens had to reject this statement.”
Wiener summarizes what needs to happen: “Mandatory, Europe-wide monitoring would be the minimum. If the results are poor, agroecological measures must be taken: diverse crop rotations and year-round soil cover are one way to promote humus build-up and stop soil erosion. It is important to protect our heritage for future generations. We cannot shirk this duty.”
The Soil Directive is being processed in the EU Parliament by the Agriculture and Environment Committee. After the Agriculture Committee has completed its opinion, the Environment Committee is next in line. Parliament’s final position is expected to be finalized in April.
Questions & Contact:
Ludmilla Reisinger/press spokeswoman Sarah Wiener, MEP
ludmilla.reisinger@la.europarl.europa.eu
+43 660 3213732
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