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To · report parliamentary committee draft · 2023-10-24 ENVI-PR-754698 on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Soil Monitoring and Resilience (Soil Monitoring Law)

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~~PR_COD_2app~~

Rapporteur for the opinion of the associated committee pursuant to Rule 57 of the Rules of Procedure:

Maria Noichl, Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

PR_COD_1amCom

Symbols for procedures

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the ~~Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption~~proposal offor a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Soil Monitoring and Resilience (Soil Monitoring Law)

~~(09474/1/2025~~(COM(2023)0416 – ~~C100229/2025~~C90234/2023 – 2023/0232(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: ~~second~~first reading)

– having regard to the ~~Council~~Commission ~~position~~proposal atto ~~first~~Parliament ~~reading~~and ~~(09474/1/2025~~the –Council ~~C100229/2025),~~(COM(2023)0416),

– having regard to the reasoned opinion submitted, within the framework of Protocol No 2 on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, by the Netherlands Senate and the Netherlands House of Representatives asserting that the draft legislative act does not comply with the principle of subsidiarity,

– having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 192(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C90234/2023),

– having regard to ~~the~~Article ~~opinion~~294(3) of the ~~European Economic~~Treaty ~~and~~on ~~Social~~the ~~Committee~~Functioning of 25the ~~October~~European ~~2023,~~Union,

~~– having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 19 June 2024,~~

– having regard to the reasoned opinion submitted, within the framework of Protocol No 2 on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, by the Dutch Senate of the States General and the Dutch House of Representatives of the States General asserting that the draft legislative act does not comply with the principle of subsidiarity,

– having regard to ~~its position at first~~the ~~reading~~opinion onof the ~~Commission proposal to~~European ~~Parliament~~Economic and ~~the Council~~Social ~~(COM(2023)0416),~~Committee,

– having regard to ~~Article 294(7) of~~ the ~~Treaty~~opinion onof the ~~Functioning~~Committee of the ~~European Union,~~Regions,

– having regard to ~~the provisional agreement approved by the committee responsible under~~ Rule ~~75(4)~~59 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to ~~Rule~~the 68opinion of ~~its~~the ~~Rules~~Committee ofon ~~Procedure,~~Agriculture and Rural Development,

– having regard to the ~~recommendation for second reading~~report of the Committee on the Environment, ~~Climate~~Public Health and Food Safety ~~(A100000/2025),~~(A90000/2023),

1. ~~Approves the~~Adopts ~~Council~~its position at first ~~reading;~~reading hereinafter set out;

~~2. Notes that the act is adopted in accordance with the Council position;~~

2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

3. Instructs its President to ~~sign the act with~~forward ~~the~~its ~~President~~position ofto the Council, ~~in accordance with Article 297(1) of~~ the ~~Treaty on the Functioning~~Commission ofand the ~~European~~national ~~Union;~~parliaments.

4. Instructs its Secretary-General to sign the act, once it has been verified that all the procedures have been duly completed, and, in agreement with the Secretary-General of the Council, to arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;

Amendment 1

~~5. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.~~

Proposal for a directive

~~SHORT JUSTIFICATION~~

Recital 1

~~The Council position at first reading reflects the agreement reached between Parliament and the Council in interinstitutional negotiations at early second-reading stage.~~

Text proposed by the Commission

~~ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT~~

Amendment

The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not include in his report input from interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies, to be listed in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

(1) Soil is a vital, limited, non-renewable and irreplaceable resource that is crucial for the economy, the environment and the society.

(1) Soil is a vital, limited, non-renewable and irreplaceable resource that is crucial for the economy, the environment and the society. It can take up to 1 000 years to produce just 1 centimetre of top soil, while the degradation process and complete loss of soil can happen rapidly.

Or. en

Amendment 2

Proposal for a directive

Recital 11

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(11) Funding is vital to enable a transition to healthy soils. The Multiannual Financial Framework presents several funding opportunities available for the protection, sustainable management and regeneration of soils. A ‘Soil Deal for Europe’ is one of the five EU missions of the Horizon Europe programme and is specifically dedicated to promoting soil health. The Soil Mission is a key instrument for the implementation of this Directive. It aims to lead the transition to healthy soils through funding an ambitious research and innovation programme, establishing a network of 100 living labs and lighthouses in rural and urban areas, advancing the development of a harmonized soil monitoring framework and increasing the awareness of the importance of soil. Other Union programmes that present objectives contributing to healthy soils are the Common Agricultural Policy, the Cohesion Policy funds, the Programme for Environment and Climate Action, the Horizon Europe work programme, the Technical Support Instrument, the Recovery and Resilience Facility and InvestEU. As the goal to have all soils within the Union in healthy status is of public interest, there is a need to increase the mobilisation of resources to support the uptake of regenerative practices, including through provision of support from the European Investment Bank via de-risking mechanisms. The Commission should assess the overall financial needs and gaps and if needed create dedicated financial lines under the Multiannual Financial Framework and adopt additional measures to end the financing of practices that run counter to the objectives of this Directive.

Or. en

Amendment 3

Proposal for a directive

Recital 12

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(12) The Soil Strategy for 2030 announced that the Commission would table a legislative proposal on soil health to enable the objectives of the Soil Strategy and to achieve good soil health across the EU by 2050. In its resolution of 28 April 2021 on soil protection42 , the European Parliament emphasised the importance of protecting soil and promoting healthy soils in the Union, bearing in mind that the degradation continues, despite the limited and uneven action being taken in some Member States. The European Parliament called on the Commission to design a Union wide common legal framework, with full respect for the subsidiarity principle, for the protection and sustainable use of soil, addressing all major soil threats. Importantly, the Parliament underlined the risks stemming from the absence of a level playing field between Member States and their different protection regimes for soil to the functioning of the internal market and the strong potential of the legal framework to stimulate fair competition in the private sector, develop innovative solutions and know-how and strengthen the export of technologies outside the Union.

__________________

42 European Parliament resolution of 28 April 2021 on soil protection (2021/2548(RSP)).

Or. en

Amendment 4

Proposal for a directive

Recital 18

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(18) It is necessary to set measures for monitoring and assessing soil health, managing soils sustainably and tackling contaminated sites to achieve healthy soils by 2050, to maintain them in healthy condition and meet the Union’s objectives on climate and biodiversity, to prevent and respond to droughts and natural disasters, to protect human health and to ensure food security and safety.

(18) It is vital to set appropriate measures for Union-wide harmonised monitoring and assessment of soil health, managing soils sustainably and tackling contaminated sites to achieve healthy soils by 2050, to maintain them in healthy condition and meet the Union’s objectives on climate and biodiversity, to prevent and respond to droughts and natural disasters, to protect human health and to ensure food security and safety.

Or. en

Amendment 5

Proposal for a directive

Recital 19

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(19) Soils host more than 25% of all biodiversity and are the second largest carbon pool of the planet. Due to their ability to capture and store carbon, healthy soils contribute to the achievement of the Union’s objectives on climate change. Healthy soils also provide a favourable habitat for organisms to thrive and are crucial for enhancing biodiversity and the stability of ecosystems. Biodiversity below and above ground are intimately connected and interact through mutualistic relationships (e.g. mycorrhizal fungi that connect plant roots).

(19) Soils host more than 25% of all biodiversity and are the second largest carbon pool of the planet. Due to their ability to capture and store carbon, healthy soils contribute to the achievement of the Union’s objectives on climate change. Soil biodiversity encompasses microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes, as well as larger organisms such as earthworms, insects, and plant roots, which collectively contribute to the ecological and functional diversity of soil ecosystems. Healthy soils provide a favourable habitat for organisms to thrive and are crucial for enhancing biodiversity and the stability of ecosystems. Biodiversity below and above ground are intimately connected and interact through mutualistic relationships (e.g. mycorrhizal fungi that connect plant roots).

Or. en

Amendment 6

Proposal for a directive

Recital 23

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(23) The long-term objective of the Directive is to achieve healthy soils by 2050. As an intermediate step, in light of the limited knowledge about the condition of soils and about the effectiveness and costs of the measures to regenerate their health, the directive takes a staged approach. In the first stage the focus will be on setting up the soil monitoring framework and assessing the situation of soils throughout the EU. It also includes requirements to lay down measures to manage soils sustainably and regenerate unhealthy soils once their condition is established, but without imposing an obligation to achieve healthy soils by 2050 neither intermediate targets. This proportionate approach will allow sustainable soil management and regeneration of unhealthy soils to be well prepared, incentivised and set in motion. In a second stage, as soon as the results of the first assessment of soils and trends analysis are available, the Commission will take stock of the progress towards the 2050 objective and the experience thereof, and will propose a review of the directive if necessary to accelerate progress towards 2050.

(23) The long-term objective of the Directive is to achieve a target of healthy soils across the Union by 2050. As an intermediate step, in light of the limited knowledge about the condition of soils and about the effectiveness and costs of the measures to regenerate their health, the directive takes a staged approach. In the first stage the focus will be on setting up the soil monitoring framework and assessing the situation of soils throughout the EU. It also includes requirements to lay down measures to manage soils sustainably and regenerate soils, where appropriate, to achieve healthy soils by 2050. This proportionate approach will allow sustainable soil management and regeneration of soils that are not healthy to be well prepared, incentivised and set in motion. In a second stage, as soon as the results of the first assessment of soils and trends analysis are available, the Commission will take stock of the progress towards the 2050 objective and the experience thereof, and will propose a review of the directive, including the setting of intermediate targets for 2040 if necessary, to accelerate progress towards 2050.

Or. en

Amendment 7

Proposal for a directive

Recital 24

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(24) Addressing the pressures on soils and identifying the appropriate measures to maintain or regenerate soil health requires that the variety of soil types, the specific local and climatic conditions and the land use or the land cover is taken into account. It is therefore appropriate that Member States establish soil districts, which are capable of adequately reflecting pedoclimatic conditions and soil variety on their whole territory. Soil districts should constitute the basic governance units to manage soils and to take measures to comply with the requirements laid down in this Directive, in particular with regard to the monitoring and assessment of soil health. There should be a minimum number of soil districts in each Member State taking into account the size of the Member State. This minimum number of soil districts for each Member State shall correspond to the number of NUTS 1 territorial units established in Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council49. Soil districts in which soil is classified as critically degraded, degraded or in moderate ecological status are best placed to set up programmes of measures, including via local soil district plans, taking into account local conditions and the views of local stakeholders, to ensure that the respective soils improve their classification. As it takes more time to restore critically degraded soils, a sufficient timeline of up to 10 years should be given to ensure that their ecological classification improves. Soils registered as contaminated that are covered by concrete management and mitigation plans might be subject to a different timeline.

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48 +OP please insert in the text the number of the Regulation on the carbon removal certification contained in document COM(2022) 672 final and insert the number, date, title and OJ reference of that Directive in the footnote.

49 Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) (OJ L 154, 21.6.2003, p. 1).

Or. en

Justification

Deletion of reference to the EC proposal, as the reference to the additional Regulation that is still under negotiations does not seem to provide added value to this Directive.

Amendment 8

Proposal for a directive

Recital 25

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(25) In order to ensure an appropriate governance on soils, Member States should be required to appoint a competent authority for each soil district. Member States should be allowed to appoint any additional competent authority at appropriate level including at national or regional level. In the event that Member States change the allocation of competences among competent authorities, they should communicate those changes to the Commission to keep the information up to date.

Or. en

Amendment 9

Proposal for a directive

Recital 27

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(27) In order to describe soil degradation it is necessary to establish soil descriptors that can be measured or estimated. Even if there is significant variability between soil types, climatic conditions and land uses, the current scientific knowledge allows to set criteria at Union level for some of those soil descriptors. However, Member States should be able to adapt the criteria for some of these soil descriptors based on specific national or local conditions and define the criteria for other soil descriptors for which common criteria at EU level cannot be established at this stage. For those descriptors for which clear criteria that would distinguish between healthy and unhealthy condition cannot be identified now, only monitoring and assessment are required. This will facilitate the development of such criteria in future.

(27) In order to describe soil degradation it is necessary to establish soil descriptors that can be measured or estimated. Even if there is significant variability between soil types, climatic conditions and land uses, the current scientific knowledge allows to set criteria at Union level for some of those soil descriptors. However, Member States should be able to adapt the criteria for some of these soil descriptors based on specific national or local conditions and define the criteria for other soil descriptors for which common criteria at EU level cannot be established at this stage. The overall assessment of soil should be based on its ecological status, which should be categorised according to five classes from "high soil ecological status”, “good ecological status”, “moderate”, “degraded soils” to “critically degraded soils”, taking into consideration, inter alia, the presence of degradation factors and soil functions.

Or. en

Amendment 10

Proposal for a directive

Recital 28

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(28) In order to create incentives, Member States should set up mechanisms to recognize the efforts of landowners and land managers to maintain the soil in healthy condition, including in the form of soil health certification complementary to the Union regulatory framework for carbon removals, and supporting the implementation of the renewable energy sustainability criteria set out in article 29 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council50 . The Commission should facilitate soil health certification by inter alia exchanging information and promoting best practices, raising awareness and assessing feasibility of developing recognition of certification schemes at Union level. Synergies between different certification schemes should be exploited as much as possible to reduce administrative burden for those applying for relevant certifications.

(28) In order to create incentives, Member States should set up mechanisms to recognize the efforts of landowners and land managers to maintain the soil in healthy condition, including in the form of soil health certification complementary to the Union regulatory framework for carbon removals. The Commission should facilitate soil health certification by inter alia setting a harmonised format and minimum quality standards for such soil health certification, common principles to ensure there is a level playing field as well as exchanging information and promoting best practices, raising awareness and assessing the use and feasibility of developing recognition of certification schemes at Union level. Synergies between different certification schemes should be exploited as much as possible to reduce administrative burden for those applying for relevant certifications.

__________________

50 Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (recast) (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 82).

Or. en

Justification

The intention of this addition in the recital is unclear and provides little value for this Directive. The certification foreseen for healthy soils should not substitute obligations under the Directive (EU) 2018/2001. Furthermore, for the certification system for healthy soils to have real added value and not to lead to market segmentation, there is a need for setting at least harmonised governance and minimum quality criteria and rules for the use of soil health certification at EU level.

Amendment 11

Proposal for a directive

Recital 31 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(31a) Soil archives preserve a snapshot of soils from a specific time and location, allowing Member States to use one sample for various purposes and to streamline field sampling activities, thus reducing the long-term costs of in-situ monitoring. In addition, soil archives enable researchers to re-evaluate soils of the past in the context of the present for an improved understanding of long-term soil change, or for other research purposes, including medical research. It is therefore imperative that the Commission, including services such as the JRC, together with the Member States and the European Soil Observatory, ensures that the samples, DNA extract and raw data taken for the compliance with Union and national environmental law are preserved in physical archives and its samples and raw data remain open for further research and innovation.

Or. en

Amendment 12

Proposal for a directive

Recital 32

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(32) The Commission should assist and support Member States’ monitoring of soil health by continuing to carry out and enhancing regular in-situ soil sampling and related soil measurements (LUCAS soil) as part of the Land Use/Cover Area frame statistical Survey (LUCAS) Programme. For that purpose, the LUCAS Programme shall be enhanced and upgraded to fully align it with the specific quality requirements to be met for the purpose of this Directive. In order to alleviate the burden, Member States should be allowed to take into account the soil health data surveyed under the enhanced LUCAS soil. The Member States thus supported should take the necessary legal arrangements to ensure that the Commission can carry out such in-situ soil sampling, including on privately owned fields, and in compliance with applicable national or Union legislation.

(32) The Commission should assist and support Member States’ monitoring of soil health by continuing to carry out and enhancing regular in-situ soil sampling and related soil measurements (LUCAS soil) as part of the Land Use/Cover Area frame statistical Survey (LUCAS) Programme. For that purpose, the LUCAS Programme should be enhanced and upgraded to fully align it with the specific quality requirements and all the descriptors to be met for the purpose of this Directive. In order to alleviate the burden, Member States should take into account the soil health data surveyed under the enhanced LUCAS soil. LUCAS soil will sample and analysis at least 20 % of the size of national samples, thereby contributing to the monitoring carried out by Member States. The Member States thus supported should take the necessary legal arrangements to ensure that the Commission can carry out such in-situ soil sampling, including on privately owned fields, and in compliance with applicable national or Union legislation.

Or. en

Amendment 13

Proposal for a directive

Recital 33

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(33) The Commission is developing remote sensing services in the context of Copernicus as a user-driven programme, hereby also supporting Member States. In order to increase the timeliness and effectiveness of soil health monitoring, and where relevant, Member States should use remote sensing data including outputs from the Copernicus services for monitoring relevant soil descriptors and for assessing soil health. The Commission and the European Environment Agency should support exploring and developing soil remote sensing products, to assist the Member States in monitoring the relevant soil descriptors. The Commission and Member States should further support the use of reliable and available digital technologies, such as electronic databases, geographic information systems, automated image identification or e-DNA, to improve knowledge sharing and transparency on soil health and to reduce the costs of soil measurements and monitoring.

Or. en

Justification

The Commission and Member States should make the most of the existing technologies and methods that can improve soil monitoring, without doing any harm to either environmental or climate objectives, and therefore help implement this Directive.

Amendment 14

Proposal for a directive

Recital 34

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(34) Building on and upgrading the existing EU soil observatory, the Commission should establish a digital soil health data portal that should be compatible with the EU Data Strategy51 and the EU data spaces and which should be a hub providing access to soil data coming from various sources. That portal should primarily include all the data collected by the Member States and the Commission as required by this Directive. It should also be possible to integrate in the portal, on a voluntary basis, other relevant soil data collected by Member States or any other party (and in particular data resulting from projects under Horizon Europe and the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’), provided that those data meet certain requirements as regards format and specifications. Those requirements should be specified by the Commission by way of implementing acts.

(34) Building on and upgrading the existing EU soil observatory, the Commission should establish a digital soil health data portal that should be compatible with the EU Data Strategy and the EU data spaces and which should be a hub providing access to soil data coming from various sources. Those data should be made publicly available in a format that can be used by the research community and the public. That portal should primarily include all the data collected by the Member States and the Commission as required by this Directive and serve as a platform for the establishment of a Sustainable Soil Management Toolbox that will provide up-to-date context-specific information about sustainable soil management practices based on different soil type, land use and climatic conditions. It should also be possible to integrate in the portal, on a voluntary basis, other relevant soil data collected by Member States or any other party (and in particular data resulting from projects under Horizon Europe and the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’), provided that those data meet certain requirements as regards format and specifications. Those requirements should be specified by the Commission by way of implementing acts.

__________________

51 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a European strategy for data, COM(2020)66 final.

Or. en

Justification

To implement Art.10, an up-to-date toolbox with information about the effects of the practices on various ecosystem services and soil threats, their context specific applicability (based on soil type, land use and climatic conditions) is proposed. The database should be supplemented with new information from research, such as from the Soil Mission EU and the EJP on Agricultural Soil Management projects. The data should be publicly available, so that farmers, land managers, private and public entities, and others can use those to improve soil health.

Amendment 15

Proposal for a directive

Recital 35

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(35) It is also necessary to improve the harmonization of soil monitoring systems used in the Member States and exploit the synergies between Union and national monitoring systems in order to have more comparable data across the Union.

(35) It is also necessary to improve the harmonization of soil monitoring systems used in the Member States, exploit the synergies between Union and national monitoring systems and make full use of already existing harmonised monitoring tools such as LUCAS in order to have more comparable data across the Union. Moreover, harmonisation of monitoring systems in Member States would help to scale up investments in advanced soil monitoring techniques and technologies.

Or. en

Amendment 16

Proposal for a directive

Recital 36

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(36) In order to make the widest possible use of soil health data generated by the monitoring carried out under this Directive, Member States should be required to facilitate the access to such data for relevant stakeholders such as farmers, foresters, land owners and local authorities.

Or. en

Amendment 17

Proposal for a directive

Recital 37

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(37) To maintain or enhance soil health, soils need to be managed sustainably. Sustainable soil management will enable the long-term provision of soil services, including improved air and water quality and food security. It is therefore appropriate to lay down sustainable soil management principles to guide soil management practices.

(37) To maintain or enhance soil health, soils need to be managed sustainably. Sustainable soil management will enable the long-term provision of soil services, including improved air and water quality, climate change mitigation and adaptation, pollution prevention and control and food security. It is therefore appropriate to lay down sustainable soil management principles to guide soil management practices.

Or. en

Amendment 18

Proposal for a directive

Recital 39

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(39) Pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council52 , Member States have to describe in their CAP Strategic Plans how the environmental and climate architecture of those Plans is meant to contribute to the achievement of, and be consistent with, the long-term national targets set out in, or deriving from, the legislative acts listed in Annex XIII to that Regulation. This Directive should be added to that list of legislative acts when, in accordance with Article 159 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, the Commission reviews it by 31 December 2025.

__________________

52 Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013 (OJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 1).

Or. en

Amendment 19

Proposal for a directive

Recital 42

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(42) To ensure synergies between the different measures adopted under other Union legislation that may have an impact on soil health, and the measures that are to be put in place to sustainably manage and regenerate soils in the Union, Member States should ensure that the sustainable soil management and regeneration practices are coherent with the national restoration plans adopted in accordance with Regulation (UE) …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council53 +; the strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the Common Agricultural Policy in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, the codes of good agricultural practices and the action programmes for designated vulnerable zones adopted in accordance with Council Directive 91/676/EEC54 , the conservation measures and prioritized action framework established for Natura 2000 sites in accordance with Council Directive 92/43/EEC55 , the measures for achieving good ecological and chemical status of water bodies included in river basin management plans prepared in accordance with Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council56 , the flood risk management measures established in accordance with Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council57 , the drought management plans promoted in the Union Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change58 , the national action programmes established in accordance with Article 10 of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, targets set out under Regulation (EU) 2018/841 of the European Parliament and of the Council59 and Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council60 , the integrated national energy and climate plans established in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council61 , the national air pollution control programmes prepared under Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council62 , risk assessments and disaster risk management planning established in accordance with Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council63 , and national action plans established in accordance with Regulation (UE) …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council64 +. Sustainable soil management and regeneration practices should be, as far as possible, integrated within these programmes, plans and measures to the extent that they contribute to the achievement of their objectives. Consequently, relevant indicators and data, such as soil-related result indicators under the CAP Regulation and statistical data on agricultural input and output reported under Regulation (EU) 2022/2379 of the European Parliament and of the Council65 , should be accessible to the competent authorities responsible for sustainable soil management and regeneration practices and soil health assessment in order to cross-link these data and indicators and thus enable the most accurate possible assessment of the effectiveness of the measures chosen.

(42) To ensure synergies between the different measures adopted under other Union legislation that may have an impact on soil health, and the measures that are to be put in place to sustainably manage and regenerate soils in the Union, Member States should ensure that the sustainable soil management and regeneration practices are coherent with the national restoration plans adopted in accordance with Regulation (UE) …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council53 +, the national biodiversity strategies and action plans established in accordance with Article 6 of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the Common Agricultural Policy in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, the codes of good agricultural practices and the action programmes for designated vulnerable zones adopted in accordance with Council Directive 91/676/EEC54 , the conservation measures and prioritized action framework established for Natura 2000 sites in accordance with Council Directive 92/43/EEC55 , the measures for achieving good ecological and chemical status of water bodies included in river basin management plans prepared in accordance with Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council56 , the flood risk management measures established in accordance with Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council57 , the drought management plans promoted in the Union Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change58 , the national action programmes established in accordance with Article 10 of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, targets set out under Regulation (EU) 2018/841 of the European Parliament and of the Council59 and Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council60 , the integrated national energy and climate plans established in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council61 , the national air pollution control programmes prepared under Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council62 , risk assessments and disaster risk management planning established in accordance with Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council63 , and national action plans established in accordance with Regulation (UE) …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council64 +. Sustainable soil management and regeneration practices should be, as far as possible, integrated within these programmes, plans and measures to the extent that they contribute to the achievement of their objectives. Consequently, relevant indicators and data, such as soil-related result indicators under the CAP Regulation and statistical data on agricultural input and output reported under Regulation (EU) 2022/2379 of the European Parliament and of the Council65 , should be accessible to the competent authorities responsible for sustainable soil management and regeneration practices and soil health assessment in order to cross-link these data and indicators and thus enable the most accurate possible assessment of the effectiveness of the measures chosen.

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53 OP : please insert please insert in the text the number of Regulation on nature restoration contained in document COM(2022) 304 and insert the number, date, title and OJ reference of that Regulation in the footnote Regulation (UE) …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council on nature restoration

54 Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (OJ L 375, 31.12.1991, p. 1).

55 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7).

56 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, pp. 1-73).

57 Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks (OJ L 288, 6.11.2007, p. 27).

58 Communication from the European Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Forging a climate-resilient Europe - the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change COM(2021)82 final.

59 Regulation (EU) 2018/841 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry in the 2030 climate and energy framework, and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 and Decision No 529/2013/EU (OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 1).

60 Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 (OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 26).

61 Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, amending Regulations (EC) No 663/2009 and (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directives 94/22/EC, 98/70/EC, 2009/31/EC, 2009/73/EC, 2010/31/EU, 2012/27/EU and 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 2009/119/EC and (EU) 2015/652 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 1).

62 Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2016 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants, amending Directive 2003/35/EC and repealing Directive 2001/81/EC (OJ L 344, 17.12.2016, p. 1).

63 Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 924).

64 + OP: please insert in the text the number of the Regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 contained in document COM(2022)305 and insert the number, date, title and OJ reference of that Directive in the footnote

65 Regulation (EU) 2022/2379 on statistics on agricultural input and output.

Or. en

Justification

Reflects addition to Annex IV on Programmes, plans, targets and measures referred to in Article 10.

Amendment 20

Proposal for a directive

Recital 46

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(46) Flexibility for the management of potentially contaminated sites and contaminated sites is needed to take account of costs, benefits and local specificities. Member States should therefore at least adopt a risk-based approach for managing potentially contaminated sites and contaminated sites, taking into account the difference between these two categories, and which allows to allocate resources taking account of the specific environmental, economic and social context. Decisions should be taken based on the nature and extent of potential risks for human health and the environment resulting from exposure to soil contaminants (e.g. exposure of vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, persons with disabilities, elderly people and children). The cost-benefit analysis of undertaking remediation should be positive. The optimum remediation solution should be sustainable and selected through a balanced decision-making process that takes account of the environmental, economic and social impacts. The management of potentially contaminated sites and contaminated sites should respect the polluter-pays, precautionary and proportionality principles. Member States should lay down the specific methodology for determining the site-specific risks of contaminated sites. Member States should also define what constitutes an unacceptable risk from a contaminated site based on scientific knowledge, the precautionary principle, local specificities, and current and future land use. In order to reduce the risks of contaminated sites to an acceptable level for human health and the environment, Member States should take adequate risk reduction measures including remediation. It should be possible to qualify measures taken under other Union legislation as risk reduction measures under this Directive when those measures effectively reduce risks posed by contaminated sites.

(46) Flexibility for the management of potentially contaminated sites and contaminated sites is needed to take account of costs, benefits and local specificities. Member States should therefore at least adopt a risk-based approach for managing potentially contaminated sites and contaminated sites, taking into account the difference between these two categories, and which allows to allocate resources taking account of the specific environmental, economic and social context. Decisions should be taken, in cooperation with local health practitioners, health authorities and the scientific community, based on the nature and extent of potential risks for human health and the environment resulting from exposure to soil contaminants (e.g. exposure of vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, persons with disabilities, elderly people and children), including exposure, and cumulative effects on human health, soil ecosystems and associated ecosystem services. The cost-benefit analysis of undertaking remediation should be positive. The optimum remediation solution should be sustainable and selected through a balanced decision-making process that takes account of the environmental, economic and social impacts. The management of potentially contaminated sites and contaminated sites should respect the polluter-pays, precautionary and proportionality principles. Member States should lay down the specific methodology for determining the site-specific risks of contaminated sites. Member States should also define what constitutes an unacceptable risk from a contaminated site based on scientific knowledge, the precautionary principle, the opinion of health authorities and practitioners, and current and future land use. In order to reduce the risks of contaminated sites to an acceptable level for human health and the environment, Member States should take adequate risk reduction measures, while prioritising in- or ex-situ remediation. It should be possible to qualify measures taken under other Union legislation as risk reduction measures under this Directive when those measures effectively reduce risks posed by contaminated sites.

Or. en

Amendment 21

Proposal for a directive

Recital 47

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(47) Measures taken pursuant to this Directive should also take account of other EU policy objectives, such as the objectives pursued by [Regulation (EU) xxxx/xxxx67 +] that aim at ensuring secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials for Europe’s industry.

deleted

__________________

67 + OP: please insert in the text the number of the Regulation establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020 contained in document COM(2023)160 and insert the number, date, title and OJ reference of that Directive in the footnote.

Or. en

Justification

The reference has no value in the legislation as there is no link to the legislation or paragraph related to it in the operational part of the Directive.

Amendment 22

Proposal for a directive

Recital 48 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(48a) In order to ensure the protection of soils from pollution by emerging chemicals that have the potential to cause significant risks to human health and to contaminate surrounding air, surface waters, groundwater, and subsequently oceans, policy mechanisms to detect and assess such substances of emerging concern should be established. In that regard, an approach that allows monitoring and analysis of those substances or groups of substances via watch lists, as is already the case for surface water and groundwater, should be developed for soil contamination. The substances or groups of substances to be placed on the watch list should be selected from amongst those substances for which the information available indicates that they could pose a significant risk at Union level to, or via, the soil environment, and for which the monitoring data are insufficient. The number of such substances or groups of substances to be monitored and analysed under the watch lists should not be limited.

Or. en

Amendment 23

Proposal for a directive

Recital 48 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(48b) Substances such as persistent organic pollutants, materials and particles, including microplastics or nanoplastics, pose a clear risk to soil health, but also to basic activities such as the development of agriculture. Their presence in soils can have implications for soil fertility, thereby compromising the health and healthy development of crops. It is therefore essential that this Directive provides for a framework for both substances and materials to be included in the monitoring of soil contaminants, and for the establishment of environmental quality standards and set of measures to prevent and remediate soil contamination from known and emerging threats.

Or. en

Amendment 24

Proposal for a directive

Recital 53

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(53) The Commission should carry out an evidence-based evaluation and, where relevant, a revision of this Directive, 6 years after its entry into force on the basis of the results of the soil health assessment. The evaluation should assess in particular the need to set more specific requirements to make sure unhealthy soils are regenerated and the objective to achieve healthy soils by 2050 is achieved. The evaluation should also assess the need to adapt the definition of healthy soils to scientific and technical progress by adding provisions on certain descriptors or criteria based on new scientific evidence relating to the protection of soils or on the grounds of a problem specific to a Member State arising from new environmental or climatic circumstances. Pursuant to paragraph 22 of the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making, that evaluation should be based on the criteria of efficiency, effectiveness, relevance, coherence and EU value added and should provide the basis for impact assessments of possible further measures.

(53) The Commission should carry out an evidence-based evaluation and, where relevant, a revision of this Directive, 6 years after its entry into force on the basis of the results of the soil health assessment. The evaluation should assess in particular the need to set more specific requirements and intermediate targets for 2040 to make sure unhealthy soils are regenerated and the objective to achieve healthy soils by 2050 is met. The evaluation should also assess the need to adapt the definition of healthy soils to scientific and technical progress by adding provisions on certain descriptors or criteria based on new scientific evidence relating to the protection of soils or on the grounds of a problem specific to a Member State arising from new environmental or climatic circumstances. Pursuant to paragraph 22 of the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making, that evaluation should be based on the criteria of efficiency, effectiveness, relevance, coherence and EU value added and should provide the basis for impact assessments of possible further measures.

Or. en

Justification

Intermediate targets should be considered to facilitate reaching the overall objective of healthy soils by 2050.

Amendment 25

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1. The objective of the Directive is to put in place a solid and coherent soil monitoring framework for all soils across the EU and to continuously improve soil health in the Union with the view to achieve healthy soils by 2050 and maintain soils in healthy condition, so that they can supply multiple ecosystem services at a scale sufficient to meet environmental, societal and economic needs, prevent and mitigate the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, increase the resilience against natural disasters and for food security and that soil contamination is reduced to levels no longer considered harmful to human health and the environment.

1. The objective of the Directive is to put in place a solid and coherent soil monitoring framework for all soils across the EU and to continuously improve soil health in the Union to achieve healthy soils by 2050 and maintain soils in healthy condition, so that they can supply multiple ecosystem services at a scale sufficient to meet environmental, societal and economic needs, prevent and mitigate the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, increase the resilience against natural disasters and for food security and that soil contamination is reduced to levels no longer considered harmful to human health and the environment.

This Directive therefore establishes a framework within which Member States are required to put in place measures to ensure that by 2050 all soils are in a healthy condition.

Or. en

Amendment 26

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1a. This Directive contributes to fulfilling international and Union commitments, including:

(a) to combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world by 2030;

(b) to achieve the ‘no net land take by 2050’ target and reduce erosion, increase soil organic carbon, and progress with remedial work;

(c) to manage land sustainably in the Union, protect soils adequately, and make sure that the remediation of contaminated sites is well underway;

Or. en

Justification

Commitments stemming from the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in particular SDG 15, the EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030, Decision No 1386/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 on a General Union Environment Action Programme to 2020 ‘Living well, within the limits of our planet’.

Amendment 27

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(a) monitoring and assessment of soil health;

(a) monitoring and assessment of soil health, based on its ecological status;

Or. en

Justification

Specification following the newly introduced soil ecological classes.

Amendment 28

Proposal for a directive

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(1a) ‘soil ecological status’ means the ecological quality of a soil evaluated according to the soil’s diversity, biological and functional activity, habitat and the presence of degradation factors and determined according to the following classification:.

(a) ‘high soil ecological status’ for soils with high biological and functional activity and structure;

(b) ‘good soil ecological status’ for soils in an overall good ecological status but that show evidence of slight adverse impacts from one or multiple degradation factor;

(c) ‘moderate soil ecological status’ for soils with evidence of slight adverse impacts from one or multiple degradation factors;

(d) ‘degraded soils’ for soils with clear evidence of adverse impacts from one degradation factor; and

(e) ‘critically degraded soils’ for soils with clear evidence of adverse impacts from more than one degradation factor.

Or. en

Justification

The definition of "ecological status", ranging from "critically degraded soils" to "high soil ecological status" is linked to the proposed modification of the binary approach proposed by the Commission in Article 9 (Assessment of the soil health) to a more gradual and nuanced assessment of the state of the soil, as applied also in the Water Framework Directive.

Amendment 29

Proposal for a directive

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 1 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(1b) ‘soil ecological functions’ means the set of interrelated processes and interactions within the soil ecosystem that sustain life, support and are the result of soil biodiversity and maintain the overall health and productivity of terrestrial environments, such as nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, soil structure formation, water filtration and purification, carbon sequestration, and the provision of habitats and resources for a diverse range of organisms.

Or. en

Amendment 30

Proposal for a directive

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(3) ‘ecosystem services’ means indirect contributions of ecosystems to the economic, social, cultural and other benefits that people derive from those ecosystems;

(3) ‘ecosystem services’ means direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to the wellbeing of society as a whole, and economic, social, cultural and other benefits that people derive from those ecosystems;

Or. en

Amendment 31

Proposal for a directive

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(3a) ‘soil biodiversity’ means the variation in soil life, from genes to communities, and the ecological complexes of which they are part, that is from soil micro-habitats to landscapes.

Or. en

Justification

The Directive lays down measures on monitoring soil biodiversity. Therefore, a definition of "soil biodiversity" according to the FAO and following the definition of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is inserted.

Amendment 32

Proposal for a directive

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 4

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(4) ‘soil health’ means the physical, chemical and biological condition of the soil determining its capacity to function as a vital living system and to provide ecosystem services;

(4) ‘soil health’ means the physical, chemical, functional and biological condition of the soil determining its capacity to function as a vital living system and to provide ecosystem services;

Or. en

Amendment 33

Proposal for a directive

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 5

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(5) ‘sustainable soil management’ means soil management practices that maintain or enhance the ecosystem services provided by the soil without impairing the functions enabling those services, or being detrimental to other properties of the environment;

(5) ‘sustainable soil management’ means soil and land management practices that maintain or enhance soil biodiversity and the ecosystem services provided by the soil without impairing the functions enabling those services, or being detrimental to other properties of the environment;

Or. en

Justification

A highly performant ecosystem service system does not necessarily imply an optimal biodiversity pool, e.g. positive effect of Acacia dealbata sp. on the retention of dunes with negative consequences for local biodiversity and fire risk (a complete degradation of biodiversity and a dramatic increase of fire risk). The addition of soil biodiversity in the definition is thus necessary to meet the overall goal of this Directive: achieve healthy soils.

Amendment 34

Proposal for a directive

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 19

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(19) ‘public concerned’ means the public affected or likely to be affected by soil degradation, or having an interest in the decision-making procedures related to the implementation of the obligations under this Directive, including land owners and land users, as well as non-governmental organisations promoting the protection of human health or the environment and meeting any requirements under national law.

(19) ‘public concerned’ means the public affected or likely to be affected by soil degradation, or having an interest in the decision-making procedures related to the implementation of the obligations under this Directive, including citizens, land owners, land users, as well as non-governmental organisations promoting the protection of human health or the environment and meeting any requirements under national law.

Or. en

Amendment 35

Proposal for a directive

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 19 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(19a) ‘public’ means one or more natural or legal persons and, in accordance with national law or practice, associations, organisations or groups comprising such persons;

Or. en

Justification

Both definitions for ‘public’ and ‘public concerned' should be included, as public participation provisions refer to ‘public concerned’ and access to justice provisions refer to the ‘public’. The definition of ‘public’ is according to Directive 2003/35/EC providing for public participation in respect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the environment and amending with regard to public participation and access to justice Council Directives 85/337/EEC and 96/61/EC.

Amendment 36

Proposal for a directive

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 20

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(20) ‘soil contamination’ means the presence of a chemical or substance in the soil in a concentration that may be harmful to human health or the environment;

(20) ‘soil contamination’ means the presence of a substance or material in the soil in a concentration that may lead to harmful effects on human health or the environment;

Or. en

Justification

The definition reflects that not all soil contaminants are substances or chemicals (e.g plastics). The new definition therefore better reflects the nature of soil contamination and is more forward looking, allowing for the incorporation of other contaminants by the Member States.

Amendment 37

Proposal for a directive

Article 4 – paragraph 2 – introductory part

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2. When establishing the geographic extent of soil districts, Member States may take into account existing administrative units and shall seek homogeneity within each soil district regarding the following parameters:

2. When establishing the geographic extent of soil districts, Member States may take into account existing administrative units and shall prioritise homogeneity within each soil district regarding the following parameters:

Or. en

Amendment 38

Proposal for a directive

Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2a. Member States shall ensure that soil districts of neighbouring Member States where there are similar values for the parameters referred to paragraph 2, points (a) to (d), cooperate, where appropriate, with each other to exchange best practices and to ensure that a coherent approach is taken across borders.

Or. en

Amendment 39

Proposal for a directive

Article 4 – paragraph 2 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2b. The Commission shall, by setting up a dedicated working group, actively support Member States in complying with their obligation to ensure cross-border cooperation of their soil districts and shall facilitate harmonisation of monitoring systems, transfer functions, monitoring design and classification of ecological status at the level of the soil descriptors listed in Annex I.

Or. en

Justification

The Commission should create synergies and actively facilitate cooperation and smooth implementation of the Directive and its monitoring framework in soil districts across neighboring countries, specifically because of the special situation of these districts.

Amendment 40

Proposal for a directive

Article 5 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Member States shall designate the competent authorities responsible at an appropriate level for carrying out the duties laid down in this Directive.

1. Member States shall by ... [OP: please insert the date = 12 months from the date of entry into force of this Directive] designate the competent authorities responsible at an appropriate level for carrying out the duties laid down in this Directive.

Or. en

Justification

The Directive is to be transposed by 24 months after the date of entry into force of this Directive. Nevertheless, to ensure that the soil districts, together with their respective competent authorities, are going to be established in an inclusive process, there is a need to designate a competent authority responsible for the internal process and coordination, prior to their establishment.

Amendment 41

Proposal for a directive

Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2a. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the list of competent authorities referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article in accordance with Article 18(3)(b). The Commission shall maintain an updated list of the competent authorities on its website.

Or. en

Amendment 42

Proposal for a directive

Article 6 – paragraph 4

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

4. The Commission shall, subject to agreement from Member States concerned, carry out regular soil measurements on soil samples taken in-situ, based on the relevant descriptors and methodologies referred to in Articles 7 and 8, to support Member States’ monitoring of soil health. Where a Member State provides agreement in accordance with this paragraph, it shall ensure that the Commission can carry out such in-situ soil sampling.

4. The Commission shall, in cooperation with Member States, carry out regular soil measurements on soil samples taken in-situ at least every three years, based on the relevant descriptors and methodologies referred to in Articles 7 and 8, to support Member States’ monitoring of soil health. Member States shall provide the necessary authorisation and support to the Commission in order to ensure that the Commission can carry out such in-situ soil sampling.

Or. en

Justification

Engagement between the Commission (JRC and LUCAS soil) and the Member States to the take samples in different countries would promote training and capacity building when needed in each country. Member States will by involving relevant authorities and research institutions take full advantage of existing programs and local knowledge and improve the link between national and EU monitoring projects.

Amendment 43

Proposal for a directive

Article 6 – paragraph 7 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

7a. The digital soil health data portal shall include the Sustainable Soil Management Toolbox referred to in Article 10(a).

Or. en

Justification

Amendment 44

Proposal for a directive

Article 6 – paragraph 8 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

8a. The Commission shall provide to Member States the necessary capacity building, assistance and consulting servicesand support their monitoring initiatives, multilateral harmonisation of regulations, methods and archives, and thereby close existing data gaps and workflow bottlenecks by sharing common expertise. The Commission shall set up a permanent governance mechanism to that end, which shall buildon, inter alia, the Soil BON initiative.

Or. en

Justification

Necessary support should be provided to Member States to put in place the first defined EU-wide soil monitoring framework. A permanent governance mechanism should be considered, in order to facilitate sharing expertise, closing gaps, etc. Soil BON partnership is an existing example of such multidisciplinary cooperation addressing capacity building needs from observations to informatics, helping to integrate existing and new field data following agreed international standards: https://geobon.org/bons/thematic-bon/soil-bon/

Amendment 45

Proposal for a directive

Article 6 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Article 6a

Efficient use and preservation of soil samples

1. The Commission, together with Member States and the European Soil Observatory, shall implement measures to ensure that the physical archives of soils, DNA extracts and the digital archive of raw data, at both Union and Member State level, remain available for further research and innovation. The Commission and Member States shall ensure that samples are stored in a manner appropriate to their long-term sustainable use.

2. By ... [OP: please insert the date = 12 months from the date of entry into force of this Directive] the Commission shall provide guidelines with protocols of reference to use soil samples in the most cost-efficient way.

Or. en

Justification

The soil archives of the Commission and Member States have untapped potential that can be used among others for: 1) technological progress, such as new analytical methods that allow additional information to be generated from samples, 2) savings: sample collection is often one of the most expensive components of projects, thus archiving samples can be a cost-effective approach to facilitate scientific progress, 3) as a reference-point for to track progress.

Amendment 46

Proposal for a directive

Article 7 – title

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Soil descriptors, criteria for healthy soil condition, and land take and soil sealing indicators

Soil descriptors, criteria for soil ecological status, land take and soil sealing indicators

Or. en

Justification

Change reflects newly proposed approach: 5 soil ecological classes.

Amendment 47

Proposal for a directive

Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

When monitoring and assessing soil health, Member States shall apply the soil descriptors and soil health criteria listed in Annex I.

When monitoring and assessing soil health, Member States shall apply the soil descriptors and soil health criteria listed in Annex I according to the respective Tier (Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3) for soil monitoring design.

Or. en

Justification

Following the proposed change to assess ecological status of soil, Member States may benefit from autonomy when selecting the most appropriate Tier for their soil monitoring design and assessment, provided that the conditions laid down in Annex I for the Tier that a Member State applies are met. Tiers I, II and III encompass a balanced and gradual range of soil descriptors (their thresholds to be differentiated for all 5 soil ecological status groups, considering local conditions).

Amendment 48

Proposal for a directive

Article 7 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2. Member States may adapt the soil descriptors and the soil health criteria referred to in part A of Annex I, in accordance with the specifications referred to in the second and third columns in part A of Annex I.

2. Member States shall select the adequate Tier for the soil monitoring design for which they qualify in accordance with the conditions of Annex I, and shall ensure that they follow at least all the criteria for soil monitoring design and soil descriptors in Part A of Annex I.

Or. en

Justification

Amendment reflects the adapted soil monitoring framework in Annex 1.

Amendment 49

Proposal for a directive

Article 7 – paragraph 4

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

4. Member States shall set soil health criteria for the soil descriptors listed in part B of Annex I in accordance with the provisions set out in the third column in part B of Annex I.

deleted

Or. en

Justification

Deletion reflects the newly introduced approach in Annex 1.

Amendment 50

Proposal for a directive

Article 7 – paragraph 5

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

5. Member States may set additional soil descriptors and land take indicators, including but not limited to the optional descriptors and indicators listed in part C and D of Annex I, for monitoring purposes (‘additional soil descriptors’ and ‘additional land take indicators’).

5. Member States may set additional soil descriptors and land take indicators, including but not limited to the descriptors and indicators listed in part B, C and D of Annex I, for monitoring purposes.

Or. en

Justification

Change reflects the newly introduced approach in Annex I.

Amendment 51

Proposal for a directive

Article 7 – paragraph 6

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

6. Member States shall inform the Commission when soil descriptors, land take indicators and soil health criteria are set or adapted in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 5 of this Article.

6. Member States shall inform the Commission when soil descriptors, land take indicators and soil health criteria are set or adapted in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 5 of this Article and with Article 9.

Or. en

Amendment 52

Proposal for a directive

Article 8 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1. Member States shall determine sampling points by applying the methodology set out in part A of Annex II.

1. Member States shall determine sampling points by applying the methodology set out in Annex I according to the selected Tier for soil monitoring design.

Or. en

Justification

Change of Annex number and Tier selection is needed due to the change of approach in Annexes.

Amendment 53

Proposal for a directive

Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(a) the values of the soil descriptors as set in Annex I;

(a) the values of the soil descriptors according to the selected Tier for soil monitoring design as set in Annex I;

Or. en

Amendment 54

Proposal for a directive

Article 8 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point a

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(a) the methodologies for determining or estimating the values of the soil descriptors set out in part B of Annex II;

(a) the methodologies for determining or estimating the values of the soil descriptors set out in Annex II;

Or. en

Amendment 55

Proposal for a directive

Article 8 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Member States may apply other methodologies than the ones listed in the first subparagraph, points (a) and (b), provided that validated transfer functions are available, as required in Annex II, part B, fourth column.

Member States may apply other methodologies than the ones listed in the first subparagraph, points (a) and (b), provided that validated transfer functions are available or may be estimated by comparing data taken at Member State level with in-situ monitoring coordinated by the Commission, as required in Annex II, part B, fourth column.

Or. en

Justification

Addition related to LUCAS survey.

Amendment 56

Proposal for a directive

Article 8 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Member States shall ensure that new soil measurements are performed at least every 5 years.

Member States shall ensure that new soil measurements are performed at least every 5 years. Member States shall also facilitate soil monitoring being carried out at shorter intervals to facilitate in-situ soil monitoring coordinated by the Commission.

Or. en

Justification

LUCAS survey to be running at least each 3 years, as amended in Art. 6.4.

Amendment 57

Proposal for a directive

Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Member States shall assess the soil health in all their soil districts based on the data collected in the context of the monitoring referred to in Articles 6, 7 and 8 for each of the soil descriptors referred to in Parts A and B of Annex I.

Or. en

Justification

Amendment reflects the proposed change to assess ecological status of soil. Member States may benefit from autonomy when selecting the most appropriate Tier for the soil monitoring design and the respective assessment on their territory, provided that the conditions laid down in Annex I for the Tier that a Member State applies are met. Tiers I, II and III encompass a balanced range of soil descriptors (their thresholds to be differentiated for all 5 soil ecological status groups, taking into consideration local conditions) introduced gradually following the respective Tiers.

Amendment 58

Proposal for a directive

Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Member States shall also take into account the data collected in the context of soil investigations referred to in Article 14.

For the assessment of the soil ecological status, Member States shall also take into account the data collected in the context of soil investigations referred to in Article 14.

Or. en

Justification

Amendment reflects the proposed change to assess ecological status of soil.

Amendment 59

Proposal for a directive

Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Member States shall ensure that soil health assessments are performed at least every 5 years and that the first soil health assessment is performed by … (OP: please insert the date = 5 years after date of entry into force of the Directive).

Member States shall ensure that assessments of soil ecological status are performed at least every 5 years and that the first assessment is performed by … (OP: please insert the date = 5 years after date of entry into force of the Directive).

Or. en

Amendment 60

Proposal for a directive

Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

A soil is considered healthy in accordance with this Directive where the following cumulative conditions are fulfilled:

A soil is considered healthy in accordance with this Directive where the soil is classified either with good or high ecological status.

(a) the values for all soil descriptors listed in part A of Annex I meet the criteria laid down therein and, where applicable, adapted in accordance with Article 7;

(b) the values for all soil descriptors listed in part B of Annex I meet the criteria set in accordance with Article 7 (‘healthy soil’).

Or. en

Justification

The rapporteur proposes to work with a more nuanced approach for the assessment of soil health. Instead of the proposed strictly binary approach (healthy versus unhealthy soil), ecological status of soil would be assessed, resulting into 5 different categories, taking into account local conditions.

Amendment 61

Proposal for a directive

Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph the assessment of soils within a land area listed in the fourth column of Annex I, shall not take into account the values set out in the third column for that land area.

deleted

Or. en

Justification

Amendment 62

Proposal for a directive

Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Soil is unhealthy where at least one of the criteria referred to in subparagraph 1 is not met (‘unhealthy soil’).

deleted

Or. en

Justification

Amendment 63

Proposal for a directive

Article 9 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Member States shall analyse the values for the soil descriptors listed in part C of Annex I and assess whether there is a critical loss of ecosystem services, taking into account the relevant data and available scientific knowledge.

Member States shall analyse the values for the soil descriptors listed in parts A, B and C of Annex I, according to the selected Tier for soil monitoring design, and assess whether there is a critical loss of soil biodiversity and ecosystem services, taking into account the relevant data and available scientific knowledge.

Or. en

Justification

Following the proposed change to assess ecological status of soil, Member States may benefit from autonomy when selecting the most appropriate Tier for soil assessment and sampling on their territory. Tiers 1, 2 and 3 encompass a balanced range of soil descriptors (their thresholds to be differentiated for all 5 soil ecological status groups, taking into consideration local conditions) introduced gradually following the respective Tiers.

Amendment 64

Proposal for a directive

Article 9 – paragraph 4

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

4. Based on the assessment of soil health carried out in accordance with this Article, the competent authority shall, where relevant in coordination with local, regional, national authorities, identify, in each soil district, the areas which present unhealthy soils and inform the public in accordance with Article 19.

4. Based on the assessment of soil health carried out in accordance with this Article, the competent authority shall, where relevant in coordination with local, regional, national authorities, identify, in each soil district, the areas of soil that are not in high soil ecological status or good ecological status and inform the public in accordance with Article 19.

Or. en

Amendment 65

Proposal for a directive

Article 9 – paragraph 4 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

4a. Soil districts shall consider establishing their soil district plans, including measures and targets to achieve measurable improvement of soil health conditions, taking into account the ecological status classification and obligations referred to in Article 7. The establishment of the soil district plans shall be the result of an inclusive process with local stakeholders. The soil district plans shall be made available online by the respective Member State.

Or. en

Justification

Soil districts should be empowered to adopt own plans, according to their needs to ensure and enable proper bottom-up functioning when implementing this Directive.

Amendment 66

Proposal for a directive

Article 9 – paragraph 4 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

4b. Member States shall ensure that the ecological status classification of soils in the respective soil districts is improved within the following periods:

(a) 10 years for critically degraded soils;

(b) 6 years for degraded or moderate ecological status soils.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, Member States may apply different periods for soils registered as contaminated on condition that concrete management and mitigation plans with predefined timelines and concrete targets are in place.

Or. en

Amendment 67

Proposal for a directive

Article 9 – paragraph 4 c (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

4c. The Commission shall establish, at the Union level, threshold values for all soil descriptors in Tiers 1 and 2 for soil monitoring design regarding the five-level classification of soil ecological status. When applying a Tier 2 for soil monitoring design, Member States may establish their own threshold values up to a variation of 20% in comparison to the threshold values established by the Commission, in order to refine the classification and mapping of soil ecological status within their territory.

Or. en

Justification

The amendment follows the change in the overall assessment of soil health, for which different values for descriptors in Annex I for each of the 5 "classes/ecological status/" are needed. This will help to move from a binary (healthy vs. unhealthy) approach to more nuanced classification. Member States that will decide to opt for Tier II instead of Tier I, may refine the EU-set thresholds values up to 20 %.

Amendment 68

Proposal for a directive

Article 9 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Member States shall set up a mechanism for a voluntary soil health certification for land owners and managers pursuant to the conditions in paragraph 2 of this Article.

deleted

Or. en

Justification

The Rapporteur proposes to reverse the logics of the proposed actions: the Commission should propose a harmonized format of soil health certification in the first stage. The agreed minimum quality standards will, during the second stage, facilitate the implementation in the Member States and prevent incompatibility across 27 Member States.

Amendment 69

Proposal for a directive

Article 9 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

The Commission may adopt implementing acts to harmonise the format of soil health certification. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 21.

The Commission shall adopt implementing acts to establish a harmonised format for soil health certification and common principles for its minimum quality standards and for the governance of such certification. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 21.

Or. en

Justification

Amendment 70

Proposal for a directive

Article 9 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Following the adoption of the implementing acts, Member States shall set up a mechanism for voluntary soil health certification for landowners and land managers within the meaning of paragraph 2 of this Article.

Or. en

Justification

The Rapporteur proposes to reverse the logic of the proposed actions: the Commission should propose a harmonized format of soil health certification in the first stage. The agreed minimum quality standards will, during the second stage, facilitate the implementation in the Member States and prevent incompatibility across 27 Member States.

Amendment 71

Proposal for a directive

Article 9 – paragraph 6

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

6. Member States shall communicate soil health data and assessment referred to in Articles 6 to 9 to the relevant land owners and land managers upon their request, in particular to support the development of the advice referred to in Article 10(3).

6. Member States shall communicate soil health data and assessment referred to in Articles 6 to 9 to the relevant land owners and land managers, in particular to support the development of the advice referred to in Article 10(3).

Or. en

Amendment 72

Proposal for a directive

Article 10 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

From (OP: please insert the date = 4 years after date of entry into force of the Directive), Member States shall take at least the following measures, taking into account the type, use and condition of soil:

From (OP: please insert the date = two years after date of entry into force of the Directive), Member States shall take at least the following measures, taking into account the geographical and climatic differences, type, use and condition of soil:

Or. en

Amendment 73

Proposal for a directive

Article 10 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(a) defining sustainable soil management practices respecting the sustainable soil management principles listed in Annex III to be gradually implemented on all managed soils and, on the basis of the outcome of the soil assessments carried out in accordance with Article 9, regeneration practices to be gradually implemented on the unhealthy soils in the Member States;

(a) defining sustainable soil management practices respecting the sustainable soil management principles listed in Annex III to be gradually implemented on all managed soils, taking into consideration local conditions in the soil districts, and, on the basis of the outcome of the soil assessments carried out in accordance with Article 9, regeneration practices to be gradually implemented on the soils that are not considered healthy in the soil districts in the Member States;

Or. en

Amendment 74

Proposal for a directive

Article 10 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(aa) use the Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) on sustainable soil management practices (GAEC 5, 6 & 7), on climate change (GAEC 1, 2 & 3), on water (GAEC 4) and on biodiversity (GAEC 8 & 9) as a basis for the definition of sustainable soil management practices by each Member State in accordance with this paragraph.

Or. en

Justification

This amendment provides for better link to the CAP legislation.

Amendment 75

Proposal for a directive

Article 10 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Member States shall ensure that the process of elaboration of the practices referred to in the first subparagraph is open, inclusive and effective and that the public concerned, in particular landowners and managers, are involved and are given early and effective opportunities to participate in their elaboration.

Member States shall ensure that the process of elaboration and review of the practices referred to in the first subparagraph is open, inclusive and effective and that the public concerned, in particular experts, landowners, land managers and civil society, are involved and are given early and effective opportunities to participate in their elaboration, when all options are still open.

Or. en

Justification

All relevant stakeholders should be involved throughout the whole drafting process, not only at its end after the decision was made.

Amendment 76

Proposal for a directive

Article 10 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Member States shall ensure easy access to impartial and independent advice on sustainable soil management, training activities and capacity building for soil managers, landowners and relevant authorities.

Member States shall ensure easy and equal access in all their soil districts to impartial and independent advice on sustainable soil management, training activities and capacity building for soil managers, landowners and relevant authorities.

Or. en

Justification

The intention of this addition is to ensure that all Soil Districts, including remote ones, will have an access to the advice (i.e. that the advisory service is not going to be centralized in the capitals of the Member States or that stakeholders will be prevented to access it due to long distance).

Amendment 77

Proposal for a directive

Article 10 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point a

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(a) promoting awareness on the medium- and long-term multiple benefits of sustainable soil management and the need to manage soils in a sustainable manner;

(a) promoting awareness on the medium- and long-term multiple benefits of sustainable soil management and the need to manage soils in a sustainable manner, including by making available a list of the soil management and regeneration practices defined in accordance with paragraph 1;

Or. en

Amendment 78

Proposal for a directive

Article 10 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point b

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(b) promoting research and implementation of holistic soil management concepts;

(b) promoting research, citizen science and implementation of holistic soil management concepts;

Or. en

Justification

Citizens can actively contribute to achievement of this Directive. E.g. under the Horizon research project ECHO citizens help with data collection and promotion of soil stewardship. One of its results will also be an open access repository, including available citizen science data to be used by farmers, land users, researchers, etc. The citizen science provides valuable information about the state of soil health in various regions, helping them to make informed decisions about land use and conservation.

Amendment 79

Proposal for a directive

Article 10 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point c

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(c) making available a regularly updated mapping of available funding instruments and activities to support the implementation of sustainable soil management.

(c) making available a regularly updated mapping of available funding instruments and activities to support the implementation of sustainable soil management and other activities to support the implementation of this Directive, including research and citizen science.

Or. en

Justification

Amendment 80

Proposal for a directive

Article 10 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

3. Member States shall regularly assess the effectiveness of the measures taken in accordance with this Article and, where relevant, review and revise those measures, taking into account the soil health monitoring and assessment referred to in Articles 6 to 9.

3. Member States shall at least every three years assess the effectiveness of the measures taken in accordance with this Article and, where relevant, review and revise those measures, taking into account the soil health monitoring and assessment referred to in Articles 6 to 9.

Or. en

Amendment 81

Proposal for a directive

Article 10 – paragraph 3 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

3a. The Commission shall assist and provide guidance to Member States regarding the development of specific measures linked to the sustainable soil management practices listed in Annex III.

Or. en

Amendment 82

Proposal for a directive

Article 10 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Article10a

Sustainable Soil Management Toolbox

1. In order to support the implementation of this Directive, the Commission shall establish a sustainable soil management toolbox that provides soil managers with practical information on the use of sustainable soil management practices.

2. The toolbox shall contain:

(a) recommendations and examples of best practices from the Member States´ competent authorities which monitor the impact of soil management practices, and information about the impact of such practices on various ecosystem services and soil threats;

(b) the context-specific information related to combinations of soil type, land use and climatic conditions;

(d) other relevant information collected by the Commission or provided to the Commission by the Member States.

3. The toolbox shall be publicly available free of charge, included in the digital soil health data portal established in accordance with Article 6(6). The Commission shall actively update and take all appropriate measures to promote the content of the toolbox to land managers.

Or. en

Justification

Amendment 83

Proposal for a directive

Article 11 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Member States shall ensure that the following principles are respected in case of land take:

Member States shall aim to reduce land take in order to achieve the objective of zero net land take by 2050 and ensure that the following principles are respected in case of land take:

Or. en

Amendment 84

Proposal for a directive

Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point a – introductory part

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(a) avoid or reduce as much as technically and economically possible the loss of the capacity of the soil to provide multiple ecosystem services, including food production, by:

(a) avoid the loss of the capacity of the soil to provide multiple ecosystem services, including food production, by:

Or. en

Amendment 85

Proposal for a directive

Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(ba) put in place measures, including incentives to restore and reuse abandoned areas with sealed soils, to prevent or limit land take.

Or. en

Amendment 86

Proposal for a directive

Article 12 – paragraph 4 – point a

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(a) to participate in the establishment and concrete application of the risk-based approach as defined in this Article;

(a) to participate in the establishment and concrete application of the risk-based approach as defined in this Article, the identification of potentially contaminated sites in accordance with Article 13, the investigation of potentially contaminated sites in accordance with Article 14 and the assessment and management of contaminated sites in accordance with Article 15;

Or. en

Amendment 87

Proposal for a directive

Article 12 – paragraph 4 – point b

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(b) to provide information relevant for the identification of potentially contaminated sites in accordance with Article 13, the investigation of potentially contaminated sites in accordance with Article 14 and the management of contaminated sites in accordance with Article 15;

(b) to provide information relevant for the activities referred to in point (a);

Or. en

Justification

The amendment copies changes to point a) in Article 12(4).

Amendment 88

Proposal for a directive

Article 13 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point g a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(ga) occurrence of any disease that is presumed to be linked to exposure to contamination via the soil.

Or. en

Justification

According to the WHO, numerous local studies have found increased risks for various adverse health outcomes linked to contaminated sites, including mortality, cancer, respiratory disease and congenital anomalies, among others. Therefore, this addition reflects that the occurrence of diseases in particular areas, may help the Member States with the identification of potentially contaminated sites.

Amendment 89

Proposal for a directive

Article 15 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2. Member States shall define what constitutes an unacceptable risk for human health and the environment resulting from contaminated sites by taking into account existing scientific knowledge, the precautionary principle, local specificities, and current and future land use.

2. Member States shall define what constitutes an unacceptable risk for human health and the environment resulting from contaminated sites by taking into account existing scientific knowledge, the opinion of health professionals and health authorities, the precautionary principle and current and future land use.

Or. en

Justification

The addition of health professionals and authorities reflects their indispensable role in assessing what constitutes an unacceptable risk for human health and in ensuring protection. The WHO´s review of European redevelopment case studies found that health authorities were only involved in less than half of all remediation and redevelopment projects and health impact assessments were applied less often during redevelopment projects than environmental ones, leading to inadequate health protection (WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2021).

Amendment 90

Proposal for a directive

Article 15 – paragraph 5

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

5. The risk reduction measures may consist of the measures referred to in Annex V. When deciding on the appropriate risk reduction measures, the competent authority shall take into consideration the costs, benefits, effectiveness, durability, and technical feasibility of available risk reduction measures.

5. The risk reduction measures shall be based on the measures referred to in Annex V. When deciding on the appropriate risk reduction measures, the competent authority shall take into consideration the costs, benefits, effectiveness, durability, and technical feasibility of available risk reduction measures in the short and long term. Member States shall always aim at soil decontamination.

Or. en

Justification

Decontamination should be considered as first, being the safest option in long term. Other options should be assessed only afterwards.

Amendment 91

Proposal for a directive

Article 15 – paragraph 6 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

6a. For each contaminated site identified by the competent authority in accordance with Article 14 or by any other means, the competent authority shall identify the legal person responsible for the contamination. That legal person shall bear the cost of the implementation of the risk reduction measures, regardless of whether the contamination occurred in the framework of a legally valid permit.

Or. en

Justification

The "polluter pays" principle, as enshrined in Article 191(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, should be observed. The principle implies that polluters should pay for the pollution they cause, creating an incentive to avoid damaging the environment at its source and holding polluters accountable.

Amendment 92

Proposal for a directive

Article 15 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Article15a

Right to submit substantiated request for an action from competent authorities

1. Any natural or legal person, individually or jointly,shall be entitled to submit to the competent authorities referred to in Article 5 at any time any evidence, such as human biomonitoring or environmental monitoring data, that indicates soil pollution. Member States shall take into consideration that evidence when implementing the provisions of this Chapter and in relation to the soil descriptors for soil contamination listed in Annex I.

2. The competent authority concerned shall assess the information submitted in accordance with paragraph 1 and add the submitted evidence to all other available evidence.

3. Where the assessment has shown a wide dispersive soil pollution or exposure to the substance or mixture concerned via soil, the competent authority shall initiate a risk management process to manage the risks. Where the assessment has shown a lack of information on the risk to health or the environment posed by a hazardous substance or mixture present in soil, the competent authority shall investigate further with a view to taking risk management measures in line with the precautionary principle, where necessary.

4. The competent authority shall, within three months of receipt of the evidence, inform the natural or legal persons referred to in paragraph 1, of its opinion on the submitted evidence and concerns, and of any steps it plans to take to address those concerns, and shall providethe reasons for both the opinion reached and the steps proposed.

Or. en

Justification

Data generated by health practitioners, scientists, citizens or other stakeholders has the potential to inform the process and improve knowledge gaps on potential contamination and its respective risks (in view of its reduction and management). Therefore, authorities of Member States shall consider evidence submitted to them such as human bio-monitoring or environmental monitoring data, in any time.

Amendment 93

Proposal for a directive

Article 16 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Member States shall make public the register and information referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2. Disclosure of any information may be refused or restricted by the competent authority where the conditions laid down in Article 4 of Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council79 are fulfilled.

Member States shall make public and accessible free of charge, the register and information referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2. Disclosure of any information may be refused or restricted by the competent authority where the conditions laid down in Article 4 of Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council79 are fulfilled.

__________________

79 Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2003 on public access to environmental information and repealing Council Directive 90/313/EEC (OJ L 41, 14.2.2003, p. 26).

Or. en

Amendment 94

Proposal for a directive

Article 16 – paragraph 5

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

5. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts establishing the format of the register. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 21.

5. The Commission shall by ... [OP : please insert date 1 year from entry into force of the Directive] adopt implementing acts establishing the format of the register. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 21.

Or. en

Amendment 95

Proposal for a directive

Article 17 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1a. When implementing this Directive, Member States shall make use of financial resources from appropriate sources, including Union funds, to finance actions with a focuson soil protection, sustainable management and regeneration.

Or. en

Amendment 96

Proposal for a directive

Article 17 – paragraph 1 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1b. The Commission shall monitor the capacity of Member States to absorb Union funds related to soil protection, sustainable management and regeneration. The Commission shall provide training and technical support to increase the absorption capacity of the Member States.

Or. en

Amendment 97

Proposal for a directive

Article 17 – paragraph 1 c (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1c. By ... [OP : please insert date = 24 months from the entry into force of the Directive], the Commission shall assess any gap between funding needs and the available Union funding necessary for supporting Member States in the implementation of this Directive, paying specific attention to environmental monitoring needs, including LUCAS soil.

The Commission shall identify potential solutions to bridge this gap in the Union general budget, where appropriate through the establishment of a permanent dedicated budget line within the ceilings of the Multiannual Financial Framework.

Or. en

Amendment 98

Proposal for a directive

Article 17 – paragraph 1 d (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1d. Member States and the Commission, in collaboration with the European Investment Bank, shall improve and facilitate the use of innovative financing mechanisms and promote the mobilisation of private capital for actions necessary to achieve the objectives of this Directive.

Or. en

Amendment 99

Proposal for a directive

Article 17 – paragraph 1 e (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1e. Member States and the Commission shall observe the ‘do no significant harm’ principle within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 for the implementation of this Directive.

Or. en

Amendment 100

Proposal for a directive

Article 18 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Member States shall electronically report the following data and information to the Commission and to the EEA every 5 years:

Member States shall electronically report the following data and information to the Commission and to the EEA at least every 5 years:

Or. en

Justification

Reporting of data should follow the monitoring frequency.

Amendment 101

Proposal for a directive

Article 18 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(b) a trend analysis of the soil health for the descriptors listed in parts A, B, and C of Annex I and for the land take and soil sealing indicators listed in part D of Annex I in accordance with Article 9;

(b) the supporting data, metadata and a trend analysis of the descriptors listed in parts A, B, and C of Annex I, according to the selected Tier for soil monitoring design and for the land take and soil sealing indicators listed in part D of Annex I in accordance with Article 9, including the extended descriptors indicated by individual Member States;

Or. en

Amendment 102

Proposal for a directive

Article 18 – paragraph 3 – point a

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(a) an up-to-date list and spatial data of their soil districts referred to in Article 4 by … (OP: please insert the date = 2 years and 3 months after date of entry into force of the Directive);

(a) an up-to-date list and spatial data of their soil districts referred to in Article 4 by … (OP: please insert the date = 12 months after date of entry into force of the Directive) and, where available, their respective soil district plans;

Or. en

Justification

To allow for a better overview of the management actions across the EU to facilitate exchange of information on best practices and transparency of the regulatory actions.

Amendment 103

Proposal for a directive

Article 18 – paragraph 3 – point b

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(b) an up-to-date list of the competent authorities referred to in Article 5 by … (OP: please insert the date = 2 years and 3 months after date of entry into force of the Directive);

(b) an up-to-date list of the competent authorities referred to in Article 5 by … (OP: please insert the date = 12 months after date of entry into force of the Directive);

Or. en

Amendment 104

Proposal for a directive

Article 18 – paragraph 3 – point c a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(ca) the measurements of the soil descriptors at the level of the sampling point.

Or. en

Amendment 105

Proposal for a directive

Article 19 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1. Member States shall make public the data generated by the monitoring carried out under Article 8 and the assessment carried out under Article 9 of this Directive accessible to the public, in accordance with the provisions under Article 11 of Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council80 for geographically explicit data and Article 5 of Directive (EU) 2019/1024 for other data.

1. Member States shall make public the data generated by the monitoring carried out under Article 8 and the assessments carried out under Article 9 and Article 10(3) of this Directive accessible to the public, in accordance with the provisions under Article 11 of Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council80 for geographically explicit data and Article 5 of Directive (EU) 2019/1024 for other data.

__________________

80 Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2007 establishing an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE) (OJ L 108, 25.4.2007, p. 1).

Or. en

Justification

Inclusion of the assessment within Art. 10 on Sustainable soil management.

Amendment 106

Proposal for a directive

Article 19 – paragraph 4

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

4. Disclosure of any information required under this Directive may be refused or restricted where the conditions laid down in Article 4 of Directive 2003/4/EC are fulfilled.

4. Disclosure of any information required under this Directive may be refused or restricted where the conditions laid down in Article 4 of Directive 2003/4/EC are fulfilled. Any reason for refusal shall be stated and substantiated in writing.

Or. en

Amendment 107

Proposal for a directive

Article 20 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Articles 8, 10, 15 and 16 shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from the date of entry into force of this Directive.

2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Articles 8, 10, and 15 shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from the date of entry into force of this Directive.

Or. en

Justification

Article 16 does not require delegated acts.

Amendment 108

Proposal for a directive

Article 20 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

3. The delegation of power referred to in Articles 8, 10, 15 and 16 may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

3. The delegation of power referred to in Articles 8, 10, and 15 may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

Or. en

Justification

Article 16 does not require delegated acts.

Amendment 109

Proposal for a directive

Article 20 – paragraph 6

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Articles 8, 10, 15 and 16 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.

6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Articles 8, 10, and 15 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.

Or. en

Justification

Article 16 does not require delegated acts.

Amendment 110

Proposal for a directive

Article 22 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Member States shall determine what constitutes a sufficient interest and impairment of a right, consistently with the objective of providing the public with wide access to justice. For the purposes of paragraph 1, any non-governmental organisation promoting environmental protection and meeting any requirements under national law shall be deemed to have rights capable of being impaired and their interest shall be deemed sufficient.

2. Member States shall determine what constitutes a sufficient interest and impairment of a right, consistently with the objective of providing the public with wide access to justice. For the purposes of paragraph 1, any non-governmental organisation promoting protection of human health or the environment and meeting any requirements under national law shall be deemed to have rights capable of being impaired and their interest shall be deemed sufficient.

Having standing shall not be made conditional on the role the public may or may not have played during a participatory phase of the decision-making procedures under this Directive.

Or. en

Justification

This addition aims at ensuring that rights of a member of the public are not limited in cases when it does not participate in the consultation procedures as it would equal to obstruction of access to justice that would not be in line with the Aarhus Convention.

Amendment 111

Proposal for a directive

Article 23 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(b a) previous infringements of this Directive by the natural or legal person;

Or. en

Amendment 112

Proposal for a directive

Article 23 – paragraph 3 – point c

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(c) the population or the environment affected by the violation, bearing in mind the impact of the infringement on the objective of achieving a high level of protection of human health and the environment.

Or. en

Amendment 113

Proposal for a directive

Article 23 – paragraph 4 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

4 a. In addition, Member States shall, in accordance with their respective rules on penalties, require the submission of soil remediation plans, conduct checks of their feasibility and continuously monitor their implementation.

Or. en

Justification

Effective solutions leading towards regeneration of soil should be implemented, in addition to financial penalties.

Amendment 114

Proposal for a directive

Article 24 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1. By (OP :please insert the date = 6 years after the date of entry into force of the Directive), the Commission shall carry out an evaluation of this Directive to assess the progress towards its objectives and the need to amend its provisions in order to set more specific requirements to ensure that unhealthy soils are regenerated and that all soils will be healthy by 2050. This evaluation shall take into account, inter alia, the following elements:

1. By (OP :please insert the date = 6 years after the date of entry into force of the Directive), the Commission shall carry out an evaluation of this Directive to assess the progress towards its objectives and the need to amend its provisions in order to set more specific requirements, including setting 2040 intermediate targets where appropriate, to ensure that unhealthy soils are regenerated and that all soils will be healthy by 2050. This evaluation shall take into account, inter alia, the following elements:

Or. en

Justification

The Commission should consider setting interim target(s), which would help reaching the objectives of this Directive.

Amendment 115

Proposal for a directive

Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point c

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(c) relevant scientific and analytical data, including results from research projects funded by the Union and by Member States;

Or. en

Amendment 116

Proposal for a directive

Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(d a) an analysis of the monitoring designs provided for and threshold values set by Member States under this Directive.

Or. en

Justification

The rapporteur proposes to provide Member States with bigger flexibility and autonomy with regards to the implementation of Union´s soil monitoring framework. Therefore, it is important that the Commission evaluates the level of harmonisation within Annexes I and II, and specifically if Tier 1 is not applied.

Amendment 117

Proposal for a directive

Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point e – point ii

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(ii) the establishment of criteria for soil descriptors listed in part C of annex I;

(ii) the establishment of criteria for soil descriptors listed annex I;

Or. en

Justification

Amendment reflects the changed approach in Annex I (Tiers 1, 2, 3), as proposed by the rapporteur.

Amendment 118

Proposal for a directive

Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point e – point iii

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(iii) the addition of new soil descriptors for monitoring purposes.

(iii) the addition of new soil descriptors for monitoring purposes or the adjustment of existing soil descriptors and criteria in Annex I.

Or. en

Amendment 119

Proposal for a directive

Article 24 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2. The Commission shall present a report on the main findings of the evaluation referred to in paragraph 1 to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the Committee of the Regions.

Or. en

Amendment 120

Proposal for a directive

Article 24 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2a. From ... [OP :please insert the date = eight years after the date of entry into force of the Directive],the Commission shall, report to the European Parliament and to the Council every three years on the implementation of this Directive, including the measures necessary to comply with this Directive taken by Member States. The report shall include an overall assessment of the progress made towards achieving healthy soils.

Or. en

Amendment 121

Proposal for a directive

Article 24 – paragraph 2 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2b. By ... [OP :please insert the date = 6 years after the date of entry into force of the Directive], as part of the assessment referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall assess the information collected on soil contamination in Member States regarding the occurrence, dispersion and values of soil contaminants, with a view to establishing a list of priority substances, followed by a watch list on soil contaminants, where appropriate.

Or. en

Justification

Similarly as in the Water Framework Directive, a list of priority substances that are of concern at EU level shall be considered to be included in the Soil Directive following the first assessment of soil health, together with a monitoring mechanism to improve the available information on identifying the substances of greatest concern and emerging treats, to prevent aggravation of contamination.

Amendment 122

Proposal for a directive

Annex I – subheading 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

SOIL DESCRIPTORS,CRITERIA FOR HEALTHY SOIL CONDITION, AND LAND TAKE AND SOIL SEALING INDICATORS

SOIL DESCRIPTORS, CRITERIA AND METHODS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF SOIL ECOLOGICAL STATUS, AND LAND TAKE AND SOIL SEALING INDICATORS

Or. en

Amendment 123

Proposal for a directive

Annex I

Text proposed by the Commission

Part A: soil descriptors with criteria for healthy soil condition established at Union level

Salinization

Electrical Conductivity (deci-Siemens per meter)

< 4 dS m−1 when using saturated soil paste extract (eEC) measurement method, or equivalent criterion if using another measurement method

Naturally saline land areas;Land areas directly affected by sea level rise

Soil erosion

Soil erosion rate (tonnes per hectare per year)

≤ 2 t ha-1 y-1

Badlands and other unmanaged natural land areas, except if they represent a significant disaster risk

Loss of soil organic carbon

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) concentration (g per kg)

- For organic soils: respect targets set for such soils at national level in accordance with Article 4.1, 4.2, 9.4 of Regulation (EU) …/…+

No exclusion

- For mineral soils: SOC/Clay ratio > 1/13; Member States may apply a corrective factor where specific soil types or climatic conditions justify it, taking into account the actual SOC content in permanent grasslands.

Non- managed soils in natural land areas

Subsoil compaction

Bulk density in subsoil (upper part of B or E horizon); Member States may replace this descriptor with an equivalent parameter (g per cm3)

In case a Member State replaces the soil descriptor “bulk density in subsoil” with an equivalent parameter, it shall adopt a criterion for healthy soil condition for the chosen soil descriptor that is equivalent to the criterion set for “bulk density in subsoil”.

Non-managed soils in natural land areas

Part B: soil descriptors with criteria for healthy soil condition established at Member States level

Excess nutrient content in soil

Extractable phosphorus (mg per kg)

< “maximum value”;The “maximum value” shall be laid down by the Member State within the range 30-50 mg kg-1

No exclusion

Soil contamination

- concentration of heavy metals in soil: As, Sb, Cd, Co, Cr (total), Cr (VI), Cu, Hg, Pb, Ni, Tl, V, Zn (µg per kg) - concentration of a selection of organic contaminants established by Member States and taking into account existing concentration limits e.g. for water quality and air emissions in Union legislation

Reasonable assurance, obtained from soil point sampling, identification and investigation of contaminated sites and any other relevant information, that no unacceptable risk for human health and the environment from soil contamination exists Habitats with naturally high concentration of heavy metals that are included in Annex I of Council Directive 92/43/EEC shall remain protected.

No exclusion

Reduction of soil capacity to retain water

Soil water holding capacity of the soil sample (% of volume of water / volume of saturated soil)

The estimated value for the total water holding capacity of a soil district by river basin or subbasin is above the minimal threshold. The minimal threshold shall be set (in tonnes) by the Member State at soil district and river basin or subbasin level at such a value that the impacts of floodings following intense rain events or of periods of low soil moisture due to drought events are mitigated.

No exclusion

Part C: soil descriptors without criteria

Aspect of soil degradation

Soil descriptor

Excess nutrient content in soil

Nitrogen in soil (mg g-1)

Acidification

Soil acidity (pH)

Topsoil compaction

Bulk density in topsoil (A-horizon) (g cm-3)

Loss of soil biodiversity

Soil basal respiration ((mm3 O2 g-1 hr-1) in dry soil

Member States may also select other optional soil descriptors for biodiversity such as: - metabarcoding of bacteria, fungi, protists and animals; - abundance and diversity of nematodes; - microbial biomass; - abundance and diversity of earthworms (in cropland);

- invasive alien species and plant pests

Part D: land take and soil sealing indicators

Aspect of soil degradation

Land take and soil sealing indicators

Land take and soil sealing

Total artificial land (km² and % of Member State surface)

Land take, Reverse land take Net land take (average per year–- in km² and % of Member State surface)

Soil sealing (total km² and % of Member State surface)

Member States may also measure other related optional indicators such as:

- land fragmentation

- land recycling rate

- land taken for commercial activities, logistic hubs, renewable energies, surfaces such as airports, roads, mines

- consequences of land take such as quantification of loss of ecosystem services, change in floods intensity

Amendment

Part A: Tier 1 for soil monitoring design

A Member State qualifies for a Tier 1 for soil monitoring design if it meets all the criteria defined in the second column and includes all soil descriptors.

Sampling design

Reference methodology

Criteria to meet

Exceptions

The sample survey shall be designed from a complete sample frame containing the best available information on the soil properties distribution, including, but not limited to, information resulting from previous national measurements and measurements under the LUCAS programme. The sampling scheme shall be a stratified random sampling.The size of the national sample shall meet the requirement of a maximum percent error (or Coefficient of Variation) of 5% for the estimation of the area having healthy soils. The Commission sample for the survey set under Article 6(4) shall contribute to a minimum of 20 % of the size of national samples.The allocation and size of the sample shall be determined by applying the Bethel algorithm (Bethel, 1989) accounting for the required maximum estimation error.

a) Stratified random sampling based on land use type;

b) The estimation of the number of samples shall be compliant with the use of the Bethel algorithm accounting for the required maximum estimation error.

Where there is a sampling design that meets the criteria established for Tier 1 for soil monitoring design at the Member State level, the reference methodology may be adapted or other design approaches may be proposed to the Commission, provided that the implemented monitoring design provides sufficient coverage of the Member State in line with the reference methodology, including national and LUCAS samples. When adapting the reference methodology, Member States shall nevertheless comply with the in-situ design of the Commission.

Degradation factors

Degradation factor

Soil descriptor

Exceptions

Salinization

 Electrical conductivity (deci-Siemens per meter)

Soil erosion

 Soil erosion rate (tonnes per hectare per year)

Loss of soil organic carbon

 Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) concentration (g per kg)

Soil compaction

 Bulk density in topsoil (g cm-3)

Non-managed soils in natural land areas

Excess nutrient content in soil

 Available phosphorus (mg per kg)

 Total Nitrogen in soil (mg g-1)

Soil contamination

 Concentration of heavy metals in soil: As, Sb, Cd, Co, Cr (total), Cr (VI), Cu, Hg, Pb, Ni, Tl, V, Zn (µg per kg)

 Concentration of a selection of organic contaminants established by Member States taking into account existing concentration limits e.g. for water quality and air emissions in Union law especially priority substances under Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

 Pesticide and biocides residues, veterinary products PFAS

Reduction of soil capacity to retain water

 Soil water holding capacity of the soil sample (% of volume of water)

 Volume of saturated soil

Acidification

 Soil acidity (pH)

Soil ecological functions

Ecological function

Soil descriptor

Exceptions

Nutrient cycling

Total nitrogen (mg g-1)

Total carbon (g per kg)

Available phosphorus (mg per kg)

Soil aggregation

Enzymatic activity

Soil respiration

Soil microbial basal respiration (μl O2 h-1 g-1 soil dry weight)

Litter decomposition

Soil biomass

Soil microbial biomass (μg C g-1 soil dry weight)

Community traits of roots

Soil biodiversity

Soil biodiversity feature

Soil descriptor

Exceptions

Taxonomic diversity

Diversity of soil organisms through (presence counts per taxonomic group) based on metabarcoding with 16S and 18S markers

Population abundance

Total abundances of bacteria (using 16S)

Total abundances of fungi (using 18S) Proportion of pathogenic fungi

Total nematode abundance per functional group (bacterial feeders, fungal feeders, root feeders, omnivores, predators)

Intraspecific genetic diversity

Soil habitat

Soil habitat feature

Soil descriptor

Exceptions

Soil structure

Size class proportions (sand, silt, clay)

Proportion of coarse materials (>2mm)

Part B: Tier 2 for soil monitoring design

A Member State qualifies for a Tier 2 for soil monitoring design if:

- it cumulatively includes all the soil descriptors for Tier 1 for soil monitoring design and the criteria defined in column 2 for the sampling design in Part B and includes at least 50% of the soil descriptors in Part B; or

- cumulatively meets the criteria for soil sampling design of Tier 1 for soil monitoring design and includes all the soil descriptors in Part A and B.

Sampling design

Reference methodology

Criteria to meet

Exceptions

Stratified systematic sampling using a spatial grid to ensure a homogeneous coverage of the Member State territory for all land types. Auxiliary information such as environmental zones or soil types may also be used to further refine the sampling design. When available, Member States shall coordinate the allocation of sampling points with other existing monitoring programmes such as national vegetation and forest inventories. The same applies to other types of censuses, like the agricultural census, to allow for a better data collection regarding management practices and an optimization of costs. The allocation and size of the sample shall be determined by scientifically established methods for the applied sampling design, such as those referenced to in Bethel (1989) for stratified random sampling.

a) Implementation of a systematic stratifier to achieve an homogeneous coverage of the Member State territory for all land types

Degradation factors

Degradation factor

Soil descriptor

Exceptions

Salinization

Soil erosion

Loss of soil organic carbon

Soil compaction

 Bulk density in subsoil; Member States may replace this descriptor with an equivalent parameter (g per cm3)

Excess nutrient content in soil

Soil contamination

 Concentration of microplastics and nanoplastics

Reduction of soil capacity to retain water

Acidification

Soil ecological functions

Ecological function

Soil descriptor

Exceptions

Nutrient cycling

nitrogen mineralization, nitrogen availability total nitrogen total carbon total organic carbon available phosphorus

Soil aggregation

water-stable aggregates water stable fraction-coarse matter

Enzymatic activity

Enzymatic activity potential for acid phosphatase (EC 3.13.2)

Enzymatic activity potential for N-acetylglucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.50)

Enzymatic activity potential for xylosidase (EC 3.2.1.37)

Enzymatic activity potential for cellobiohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.91)

Enzymatic activity potential for β-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21)

Soil respiration

Litter decomposition

Soil biomass

Microbial biomass as indicated by marker fatty acids (biomass per microbial functional group; ng FAME g-1 soil dry weight)

Community traits of roots

Soil biodiversity

Soil biodiversity feature

Soil descriptor

Exceptions

Taxonomic diversity

Diversity of soil animals per group (Nematodes and Earthworms)

Metagenome-based soil biodiversity taxonomic counts per taxonomic group

Population abundance

Total abundances of fungi (using the Internal transcribed spacer region (ITS))

Intraspecific genetic diversity

Soil habitat

Soil habitat feature

Soil descriptor

Exceptions

Soil structure

Part C: Tier 3 for soil monitoring design

A Member State qualifies for a Tier 3 for soil monitoring design if it meets Tier 2 for soil monitoring design conditions and includes at least 50% of the soil descriptors in Part C.

Soil ecological functions

Ecological function

Soil descriptor

Exceptions

Nutrient cycling

Soil aggregation

Water-stable aggregates

Water stable fraction-coarse matter

Enzymatic activity

Soil respiration

Litter decomposition

Litter decomposition rate

Soil biomass

Soil animal biomass (per taxonomic group; mg dry weight)

Root biomass (mg dry weight)

Community traits of roots

Total nitrogen present in roots Root length density Mean root diameter Variation in root diameter Root dry matter content

Soil biodiversity

Soil biodiversity feature

Soil descriptor

Exceptions

Taxonomic diversity

Diversity of soil animals per group (Collembola and Mites)

Presence of invasive alien species

Diversity of viruses using metabarcoding

Population abundance

Total abundance of soil animals per taxonomic group

Intraspecific genetic diversity

Intraspecific genetic diversity using metagenomic technics

Soil habitat

Soil habitat feature

Soil descriptor

Exceptions

Soil structure

Part D: land take and soil sealing indicators

Aspect of soil degradation

Land take and soil sealing indicators

Land take and soil sealing

Total artificial land (km² and % of Member State surface)

Land take, Reverse land take Net land take (average per year–- in km² and % of Member State surface)

Soil sealing (total km² and % of Member State surface)

Member States may also measure other related optional indicators such as:

- land fragmentation

- land recycling rate

- land taken for commercial activities, logistic hubs, renewable energies, surfaces such as airports, roads, mines

- consequences of land take such as quantification of loss of ecosystem services, change in floods intensity

Amendment 124

Proposal for a directive

Annex II

Text proposed by the Commission

Part A: Methodology for determining sampling points

Activity

Minimum criteria for methodology

Determination of soil sampling points (sample survey)

The sampling scheme shall be a stratified random sampling optimized on the soil health descriptors.

The size of the national sample shall meet the requirement of a maximum percent error (or Coefficient of Variation) of 5% for the estimation of the area having healthy soils.

The Commission sample for the survey set under Art 6(4) may contribute to a maximum of 20 % of the size of national samples.

The allocation and size of the sample shall be determined by applying the Bethel algorithm (Bethel, 1989) accounting for the required maximum estimation error.

Part B: Methodology for determining or estimating the values of soil descriptors

When a reference methodology is set, either the reference methodology is used or another methodology, provided that it is available in the scientific literature or publicly available and a validated transfer function is available.

Soil descriptor

Reference methodology

Minimum methodological criteria

Validated transfer function required (if using a methodology different from the reference methodology)?

Soil texture (clay, silt and sand content – needed for the determination of other descriptors and related ranges)

Preferred method: ISO 11277:1998 Determination of particle size distribution in mineral soil material – Method by sieving and sedimentation Alternative method: ISO13320:2009 Particle size analysis – Laser diffraction methods

YES

Electrical Conductivity

Option 1: saturated soil paste extract (eEC) measurement method (FAO SOP: GLOSOLAN-SOP-08) Option 2: ISO 11265:1994 Determination of The Specific Electrical Conductivity;

YES

Soil erosion rate

Soil erosion rate estimation shall take into account all actions taken to mitigate or compensate the erosion risk, including post-fire mitigation measures.

Soil erosion rate estimation shall include all relevant erosion processes such as erosion by water, wind, harvest and tillage.

Soil erosion by water shall be assessed by considering the following factors:

- soil characteristics (e.g. erodibility, soil crusting, soil roughness),

- climate (e.g. rainfall erosivity – intensity and duration, considering relevant climate change projections for a given area),

- topography (e.g. slope steepness and length),

- vegetation cover, crop type, land use and management practices to control or reduce erosion,

- management practices (e.g. cover crops, reduced tillage, mulching, etc.),

- burned areas.

Soil erosion by wind shall be assessed by considering the following factors:

- soil characteristics (e.g. erodibility),

- climate (e.g. soil moisture, wind speed, evaporation),

- vegetation (e.g. crop type),

- management practices to control or reduce erosion (e.g. wind breaks).

N/A

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

ISO 10694:1995 Determination of organic and total carbon after dry combustion

YES

Bulk density in subsoil (B horizon) or equivalent parameter chosen by Member States

ISO 11272:2017 for determination of dry bulk density In case an equivalent parameter is chosen, the methodology shall be either a European or International standard when available; if such standard is not available, the methodology chosen shall either be available in the scientific literature or publicly available.

YES

Extractable phosphorus

ISO 11263:1994 for spectrometric determination of phosphorus soluble in sodium hydrogen carbonate solution (P-Olsen)

YES

- Concentration of heavy metals in soil: As, Sb, Cd, Co, Cr (total), Cr (VI), Cu, Hg, Pb, Ni, Tl, V, Zn - Concentration of a selection of organic contaminants defined by Member States and taking into account existing EU legislation (e.g. on water quality or pesticides)

Potential environmental available content of heavy metals in soils based on ISO 17586:2016 using dilute nitric acid.

Use European or International standards when available; if such standard is not available, the methodology chosen shall either be available in the scientific literature or publicly available

YES N/A

Soil water holding capacity

Methodology to determine the value for one sample point: Option 1: LABORATORY: ISO 11274:2019 for determination of the water-retention characteristic.

Option 2: ESTIMATION: apply methodology described in the scientific article “New generation of hydraulic pedotransfer functions for Europe” based on texture (or particle size distribution) and soil organic carbon.

Minimum criteria for estimating the total soil water holding capacity of a soil district on a river basin or sub-basin scale:

- for the area of land not taken estimate the total value of soil water holding capacity

- for the area of land taken, consider setting the water holding capacity of impervious areas to zero, attributing proportionately intermediate values to semi-impervious and other artificial areas.

YES (for point value)

Nitrogen in soil

ISO 11261:1995 for determination of total soil nitrogen using a modified Kjeldahl method

YES

Soil acidity

ISO 10390:2005 for determination of pH in H2O and CaCl2 extract (pH-H2O and pH-CaCl2)

YES

Bulk density in “topsoil” (A-horizon)

ISO 11272:2017 for determination of dry bulk density

YES

Soil basal respiration Member States may also select optional soil biodiversity descriptors such as: -Metabarcoding of bacteria, fungi, protists and animals; - Abundance and diversity of nematodes; - Microbial biomass; - Abundance and diversity of earthworms (in cropland)

Follow indications described in the scientific article “Microbial biomass and activities in soil as affected by frozen and cold storage”

Use European or international standards when available; if such standard is not available, the methodology chosen shall either be available in the scientific literature or publicly available.

YES For other soil biodiversity descriptors: N/A

Amendment

Part A: General methods to sample soil biodiversity and soil ecological functions

Activity

Reference criteria for methodology

Soil ecological monitoring

The aim shall be to use a simple soil sampling protocol that can standardise soil ecological sampling across Member States and that is applicable to all Tier 1 and Tier 2 for soil monitoring design ecological soil descriptors (soil ecological functions, soil biodiversity and soil habitat descriptors) with the exception of soil fauna descriptors.

Following the sampling protocol adopted for SoilBON, considering a homogeneous square area of 30x30 meters, establish nine subsamples matching the corners of the squares, its center, and the intermediate points.

Using a metal soil corer or similar, extract the soil with a volume of 5 cm diameter and 10 cm depth.

Soil depth can be increase to 30 cm but the first (up to 10 cm) and second layer should be separated.

Soil fauna monitoring

For earthworms: hand sorting using protocols complaint with the sampling protocol laid out in Briones et al. 2020 For nematodes: following the criteria established in the standard SoilBON sampling protocol. For collembola and mites: following the protocols established in Potapov et al. 2022

Other point based soil descriptors

Member States shall use the LUCAS Soil methodology as a reference for soil sampling.

Part B: Methodology for determining or estimating the values of soil descriptors When a reference methodology is set, either the reference methodology is used or another methodology, provided that it is available in the scientific literature or publicly available and a validated transfer function is available.

Soil descriptor

Reference methodology

Minimum methodological criteria

Validated transfer function required (if using a methodology different from the reference methodology)?

Soil texture (clay, silt and sand content – needed for the determination of other descriptors and related ranges)

Preferred method: ISO 11277:1998 Determination of particle size distribution in mineral soil material – Method by sieving and sedimentation

Alternative method: ISO13320:2009 Particle size analysis – Laser diffraction methods

YES

Electrical Conductivity

Option 1: saturated soil paste extract (eEC) measurement method (FAO SOP: GLOSOLAN-SOP-08)

Option 2: ISO 11265:1994 Determination of The Specific Electrical Conductivity;

YES

Soil erosion rate

Soil erosion rate estimation shall take into account all actions taken to mitigate or compensate the erosion risk, including post-fire mitigation measures.

Soil erosion rate estimation shall include all relevant erosion processes such as erosion by water, wind, harvest and tillage.

Soil erosion by water shall be assessed by considering the following factors:

- soil characteristics (e.g. erodibility, soil crusting, soil roughness),

- climate (e.g. rainfall erosivity – intensity and duration, considering relevant climate change projections for a given area),

- topography (e.g. slope steepness and length),

- vegetation cover, crop type, land use and management practices to control or reduce erosion,

- management practices (e.g. cover crops, reduced tillage, mulching, etc.),

- burned areas.

Soil erosion by wind shall be assessed by considering the following factors:

- soil characteristics (e.g. erodibility),

- climate (e.g. soil moisture, wind speed, evaporation),

- vegetation (e.g. crop type),

- management practices to control or reduce erosion (e.g. wind breaks).

N/A

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

ISO 10694:1995 Determination of organic and total carbon after dry combustion

YES

Bulk density in subsoil or equivalent parameter chosen by Member States

ISO 11272:2017 for determination of dry bulk density

In case an equivalent parameter is chosen, the methodology shall be either a European or International standard when available; if such standard is not available, the methodology chosen shall either be available in the scientific literature or publicly available.

YES

Extractable phosphorus

ISO 11263:1994 for spectrometric determination of phosphorus soluble in sodium hydrogen carbonate solution (P-Olsen)

YES

- Concentration of heavy metals in soil: As, Sb, Cd, Co, Cr (total), Cr (VI), Cu, Hg, Pb, Ni, Tl, V, Zn

- Concentration of a selection of organic contaminants defined by Member States and taking into account existing EU legislation (e.g. on water quality or pesticides)

- Pesticide and biocides residues, veterinary products

- PFAS

Potential environmental available content of heavy metals in soils based on ISO 17586:2016 using dilute nitric acid.

Use European or International standards when available; if such standard is not available, the methodology chosen shall either be available in the scientific literature or publicly available

YES

N/A

Soil water holding capacity

Methodology to determine the value for one sample point:

Option 1: LABORATORY: ISO 11274:2019 for determination of the water-retention characteristic.

Minimum criteria for estimating the total soil water holding capacity of a soil district on a river basin or sub-basin scale:

- for the area of land not taken estimate the total value of soil water holding capacity

- for the area of land taken, consider setting the water holding capacity of impervious areas to zero, attributing proportionately intermediate values to semi-impervious and other artificial areas.

YES

Nitrogen in soil

ISO 11261:1995 for determination of total soil nitrogen using a modified Kjeldahl method

YES

Soil acidity

ISO 10390:2005 for determination of pH in H2O and CaCl2 extract (pH-H2O and pH-CaCl2)

YES

Bulk density in “topsoil”

ISO 11272:2017 for determination of dry bulk density

YES

Nutrient cycling

For nitrogen mineralization, air-dried soil samples are re-wetted to reach 80% of their water holding capacity and incubated in the laboratory for 14 days at 30ºC.

The potential net N mineralization rate is estimated as the difference between initial and final inorganic N.

The availability of soil nutrients is calculated using root simulators, available N and P is determined by using a colorimetric determination based on the reaction with ammonium molybdate.

YES

Soil aggregation

These soil descriptors are reported as water-stable soil aggregates assessed by determining the resistance of soil aggregates against water as a disintegrating force, by applying an approach modified from Kemper and Rosenau (1986).

The resulting index represents the percentage of water-stable aggregates with a diameter smaller than 4 mm. Additionally, debris (i.e., coarse matter) will be separated from the water-stable fraction to correctly determine the water-stable aggregates (WSA) fraction of the sample: %WSA=(water stable fraction-coarse matter)/(4 g-coarse matter).

YES

Enzymatic activity

Follow the indications described in Zeiss et al., 2022

YES

Soil respiration

Follow indications described in the scientific article “Microbial biomass and activities in soil as affected by frozen and cold storage”

YES

Litter decomposition

Use European or international standards when available; if such standard is not available, the methodology chosen shall either be available in the scientific literature or publicly available.

N/A

Soil biomass

Follow the indications described in Guerra et al., 2021

YES

Community traits of roots

Follow the indications described in Guerra et al., 2021

YES

Taxonomic diversity

Follow the indications described in Guerra et al., 2021

YES

Population abundance

Follow the indications described in Guerra et al., 2021

YES

Intraspecific genetic diversity

Follow the indications described in Guerra et al., 2021

YES

Soil structure

Granulometric analysis is performed on sieved soil (Ø < 2 mm), after the destruction of the organic matter with H2O2.

The dispersion is carried out with a solution of hexametaphosphate/sodium carbonate and stirred for 16 hours.

The granulometric fractions considered are those recommended by the International Union of Soil Science (Atterberg Scale), which are coarse sand (2 > Ø > 0.2 mm), fine sand (0.2 > Ø > 0.02 mm), silt (0.02 > Ø > 0.002 mm) and clay (Ø < 0.002 mm).

The coarse sand fraction is determined by sieving, the silt and clay fractions are determined by sedimentation and pipetting using a Robinson pipette and the fine sand by sedimentation and decantation. Sedimentation times are calculated using the Stokes Law.

YES

Or. en

Amendment 125

Proposal for a directive

Annex IV – point 8 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(8a) The national biodiversity strategies and action plans established in accordance with Article 6 of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

Or. en

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

I. Background

Soil is a precious, but very fragile, non-renewable and finite resource that is under increasing pressure. Only in the EU, its health is threatened among others by sealing, compaction, unsustainable soil management, erosion, floods and landslides, droughts, hydrogeological instability, loss of soil organic matter, fires, storms, salinisation, contamination, loss of soil biodiversity, acidification and desertification. Most of the ongoing degradation processes are not adequately addressed or are not addressed at all in existing EU and national legislation.

Healthy soils are a prerequisite to ensure a sustainable and resilient economy, society and environment as they increase our resilience to climate change, to extreme weather events, drought and floods, store and filter water, provide services such as provision of food and biomass for bioeconomy and support our well-being.

Given the above mentioned and the fact that it can take up to 1 000 years to produce just 1 centimetre of top soil, which can be lost with just one heavy rainfall if it is not protected, there is an urgent need to ensure adequate monitoring of soil health and concrete measures to be taken by Member States to ensure healthy soils by 2050.

By this proposal, the Commission respected to vast extent the call of the European Parliament to design an EU-wide common legal framework, with full respect for the subsidiarity principle, for the protection and sustainable use of soil, addressing all major soil threats.

II. Position of the rapporteur

Chapter I: General provisions

The rapporteur considers that due to the urgency related to the state of soil in the EU, the overall target to achieve healthy soils in the EU by 2050 should be binding, with flexibility being given to the Member States in the measures taken to ensure improvement and increasing trends in soils health. Intermediate targets in 2040 may be set, depending on the progress done by the Member States, following the first assessment by the European Commission.

The rapporteur welcomes the bottom-up approach taken by the Commission when proposing Soil Districts, giving sufficient flexibility to the Member States, while ensuring homogeneity based on environmental conditions. Nevertheless, he suggests closer sharing of knowledge and coordinated approach in neighbouring countries with the same soils, as sometimes more similarities can be found between two countries than between districts in one Member State. The Commission should assist to this aim inter alia by setting up a working group, whose role would also be to boost synergies and to facilitate harmonisation of monitoring systems across the Union. In addition, the rapporteur proposes following to assist the Member States and improve exchange of practices, knowledge and better use of resources:

- Article 6a (new) on Efficient use and preservation of soil samples that shall ensure that samples taken in field are used to generate as much information as possible at the time of extraction or in the future, including for further research and innovations.

- Development of Sustainable Soil Management Toolbox (Article 10a new) that would serve as a living tool where context-specific information and best practices could be found.

- That the Commission provides the necessary capacity building, assistance and consulting services to Member States, including with regard to their monitoring initiatives.

Chapter II: Monitoring and assessment of soil health

Assessment of soil health based on 5 ecological classes

The rapporteur is proposing a different approach to be taken to assess soil health by moving from classification of soils as healthy or unhealthy in Article 9, to a more gradual approach inspired by the Water Framework Directive, that is familiar to Member States. Therefore, he incorporates in the respective articles 6 to 9, monitoring and assessment of ecological status distinguishing 5 classes of soils (from critically degraded to high ecological status). The soils will be considered healthy if they fall in the two best categories -i.e. having “high soil ecological status” or “good ecological status”. For soils that will fall within “moderate”, “degraded soils” or “critically degraded soils”, a realistic timeline to move to a better category is proposed. Soil Districts are not obliged, but encouraged to establish coherent Soil District Plans setting up measures applicable on their territory to ensure improvement of soil ecological status, or to achieve improvement of soils in view achieving the 2050 target for healthy soils, by other means. He believes that the Soil Districts shall aim at inclusive internal processes empowering local citizens, lands owners, farmers, researchers and other stakeholders to actively participate and contribute to achieving the overall objective.

Monitoring design underpinning the assessment of soils

The rapporteur gives more flexibility to Member States in their choice of monitoring design, ensuring balance between harmonisation of soil monitoring systems for comparison of results and keeping them the possibility to use and build on their existing monitoring systems (e.g. those using systematic stratifier as an alternative to stratified random sampling). Member States are asked to follow at least Tier I approach that builds on the Commission's proposal. Nevertheless, they can benefit from autonomy when selecting the most appropriate Tier for the soil monitoring design and the respective assessment on their territory, provided that they meet the conditions laid down in Annex I for the Tiers. Tiers I, II and III encompass a balanced range of soil descriptors (their thresholds to be differentiated for all 5 soil ecological status groups, taking into consideration local conditions) introduced gradually following the respective Tiers.

The rapporteur deletes the values proposed by the Commission that would lead to a classification of soils either as healthy or unhealthy. He proposes a more nuanced approach with values to be set for Tier I & Tier II for the five-level classification explained above. Member States choosing Tier II approach, may benefit from bigger flexibility in the sampling design and should be able to establish their own threshold values for the assessment of soils, assuming a maximum variation of 20 % from the EU-set thresholds. Therefore, they will be allowed to refine the classification and mapping of soil ecological status within their border. Nevertheless, they will have to include additional descriptors in their monitoring compared to Tier I.

Chapter III: Sustainable soil management

The rapporteur welcomes that the European Commission reflected on the calls of the Parliament and introduced, in Annex III, the principles of sustainable soil management that should be further defined by the Member States. Additionally, he recognizes the added value of future definitions of practices which affect the state of soil negatively.

He believes that it is of importance that Member States facilitate the up-take of sustainable soil management practices in all soil districts without exception, to leave no soil and soil district behind. This would be achieved not only via necessary access to training, capacity building, and citizen science, but also via the introduction of the Sustainable Soil Management Toolbox, which should become an essential tool for sharing best practices across soil districts and Member States.

Chapter IV: Contaminated sites, point source and diffuse pollution

According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), around 300 000 contaminated sites in Europe still require clean-up. As exposure to contamination from soil may lead to serious health diseases and as it is challenging to ensure safe redevelopment of contaminated sites, decontamination (in or ex-situ remediation) should be always considered, when feasible. The costs of implementation of risk reduction measures should be covered by the polluter responsible for contamination, in line with the polluter pays principle. Finally, the rapporteur believes that the Member States shall involve human health organisations in the process of identification of contaminated sites as well as in the assessment of what constitutes an (un)acceptable risk and measures to be taken to ensure protection.

In addition, in line with the EP´s resolution on soil protection, the Directive should reflect the scientific evidence and provide a framework to tackle diffuse soil contaminants and contaminants of emergency concerns, such as PFAS or materials like microplastics. The rapporteur therefore believes that following the first monitoring done by the Member States and based on the collected data on the EU and Member States level, an EU list of priority substances could be developed, together with a watch list to improve information on substances when more data is needed. It should be noted that the European Commission committed in the European Soil Strategy for 2030 to the establishment of an EU priority list for contaminants of major and/or emerging concern by 2024.

Finally, the rapporteur introduces a procedure that allows submission of evidence such as human biomonitoring data, by a natural or legal person, to be considered for possible action (e.g. adoption of risk mitigation measures or update of list of contaminated sites).

Chapter V: Financing

Given the urgency of action, the rapporteur invites the Member States to seek and use available resources. He invites the Commission to monitor and to help increase the absorption capacity of Member States to achieve results on the ground swiftly. He considers that a permanent dedicated budget line should be established for the financing of monitoring under the Multiannual Financial Framework. Understanding the importance of private capital mobilisation and policy coherence, he wishes to engage the European Investment Bank to facilitate the use of innovative mechanisms and the Do No Significant Harm principle to be observed as general rule.

Chapter VII: Access to justice and review

Effective participation of local stakeholders, availability of information, free of charge and in an accessible form and transparency is an important aspect of this Directive that enables monitoring of progress towards achieving healthy soils by 2050. Rapporteur inserts to Article 22 provision that should disallow additional procedural standing rules, that would restrict access to justice e.g. in cases when public would not participate in preceding public consultation, against the provisions of Aarhus Convention.

ANNEX: LIST OF ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The following list is drawn up on a purely voluntary basis under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur. The rapporteur has received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the draft report:

Entity and/or person

CONSEIL EUROPEEN DES JEUNES AGRICULTEURS

European agri-cooperatives (COGECA)

European Compost Network

Moët Hennessy

Nestlé S.A

European Chemical Industry Council

European Federation of National Associations of Water Services (EurEau)

European Landowners' Organization asbl

European State Forest Association

Conféderation Européenne des Propriétaires Forestiers

Finnish Forest Industries Federation (Metsäteollisuus ry)

Growing Media Europe

European Coordination Via Campesina

European Environmental Bureau

ClientEarth AISBL

Danone

The Coca-Cola Company

Pesticide Action Network Europe

Stora Enso Oyj

CEFS (European Association of Sugar Manufacturers)

Eustafor

Wageningen University & Research

Fertilizers Europe

Agroecology Europe

European Biogas Association

Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE)

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)

Bayer AG

Merck

American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union

International Association of Waterworks in the Rhine Basin & ERM coalition

European Geosciences Union

Soil BON

Umweltbundesamt

INRAE - National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment