Assessment of the European Commission proposal for a Soil Monitoring Law

Healthy soils are vital for attaining climate neutrality, halting and reversing biodiversity loss, achieving zero pollution, food and water security, and circular economy. This is recognised by the European Commission’s EU Soil Strategy for 2030 (published November 2021) – a vital component of the EU Green Deal. 

As part of their commitments to the Soil Strategy the Commission has published its proposal for an EU Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience (‘Soil Monitoring Law’, or SML). EU legislation protecting soils is long overdue and we welcome the Commission’s initiative. However, there are some notable shortcomings in the current proposal and as it stands, the falls short of enabling the achievement of healthy soils in the EU by 2050. The proposal lacks ambition and must be significantly improved to lead to effective change. In light of this, we invite the co-legislators to consider the elements outlined in this assessment.

For more information on soil biodiversity descriptors for soil monitoring see this technical briefing by the EEB and NABU.

For more information on the importance of access to justice see this technical briefing by the EEB and ClientEarth.

For more information on establishing a robust governance structure see this technical briefing by the EEB and ClientEarth.

For more information on the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality see this technical briefing by the EEB and ClientEarth.