The European agricultural umbrella organizations Copa-Cogeca are concerned about the new soil strategy proposed by Brussels yesterday. The unions fear that the EU is trying to gain more control over land policy in the member states, imposing a lot of extra administrative burdens on farmers.
The new 'healthy soil strategy' presented by Climate and Environment Commissioners Frans Timmermans and Virginijus Sinkevičius not only includes an import ban on products from former (deforested) rainforest areas, but also stricter rules against soil pollution within the EU countries themselves. Parts of the Green Deal would thus have to become legally binding.
It was also announced that large peatland and natural areas should function more as water retention and marsh areas, and that a 'clean soil declaration' could be introduced when agricultural land is sold. Regarding soil, the European Commission estimates that currently between 60 and 70% of surfaces in the EU are unhealthy.
Copa-Cogeca says it will wait to see what the concrete proposals from the Commission will be, alongside the already existing instruments. However, the umbrellas are pleased with the announcement that an 'impact assessment' will be carried out in advance of this soil strategy. This is a small reminder for the Commission about how the impact study was more or less buried for the common agricultural policy after 2023.
Dutch MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen (SGP) also expressed skepticism in an initial reaction: "It is right that attention is paid to soil health. Every farmer knows how important the soil is for food production. But why must this be regulated through EU rules? What is the cross-border aspect here? If there is anything that does not cross borders, it is soil!"
With the new EU soil strategy, critics say the European Commission is once again trying to win over the policy area of 'soil protection' which falls under the competence of the EU countries themselves. In 2014, Brussels had to withdraw proposals for a European framework directive on soil, after eight years of lack of progress due to opposition from the EU countries.