Towards a European framework for soil quality and remediation

Soil health is defined as "the physical, chemical, and biological condition of soil that determines its ability to function as a viable living system and provide ecosystem services."

Currently, over 60% of European soils are not in good condition, showing a progressive deterioration that leads to economic losses estimated at approximately €50 billion per year.

This situation has made the adoption of common policies and effective tools for soil protection urgent. In this regard, on September 29, the European Council adopted the new Soil Monitoring Directive (now awaiting approval by the European Parliament) with the goal of ensuring healthy soils by 2050. Member States will have three years from the entry into force of the directive to implement it into their respective legislation and establish a monitoring system compliant with a shared European methodology.

During the meeting, the main innovations introduced by the directive will be presented and its concrete effects on public policies and activities related to soil management will be analyzed.