On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the council on Soil Monitoring and Resilience (Soil Monitoring Law)
AGRI-PA-754669
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: Maria Noichl
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The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development's draft opinion on the Soil Monitoring Law proposes amendments to set binding targets for healthy soils, including intermediate targets, and to strengthen soil management and monitoring provisions.¶¶¶ It calls for mandatory soil health plans, use of GAECs, zero net land take by 2050, and better access to soil data and funding.¶¶¶
Committee position. The committee proposes amendments to introduce binding soil health targets, strengthen monitoring and management, and align with CAP and restoration plans.¶¶¶
Key points
- Sets a binding target of 100% healthy soils in the EU by 2050, with intermediate targets of 55% by 2035, 70% by 2040, and 85% by 2045.¶
- Requires soil districts to reflect pedoclimatic conditions and be based on NUTS 2 territorial units, with cross-border cooperation.¶¶¶
- Mandates soil health plans that align with national restoration plans and include soil biodiversity descriptors.¶¶
- Defines unhealthy soil as failing criteria or showing critical loss of ecosystem services or critical land take impacts.¶
- Makes GAECs 1-9 obligatory for defining sustainable soil management practices, with no regression in ambition.¶¶
- Requires public participation and publication of draft soil management practices and assessments.¶¶
- Calls for zero net land take by 2050 and compensation for loss of soil ecosystem services.¶¶
- Urges use of Union funds for soil protection and Commission support to increase absorption capacity.¶¶
- Ensures public access to soil health information free of charge and extends delegated acts to Annex I.¶¶¶