MEPs call for legislation on the protection and sustainable use of land

MEPs in Brussels on Wednesday called on the European Commission to propose a common EU legal framework for the protection and sustainable use of land, which will help address threats to soil and support measures to restore it. The non-legislative resolution of the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety sets out the European Parliament's recommendations in relation to the forthcoming Action Plan on Zero Water, Air and Soil Pollution and the new EU Soil Strategy currently being worked on by the European Commission. 605 MEPs voted in favor, 55 against and 41 abstentions. Soil protection at EU level was already the subject of a separate plenary debate on Monday. MEPs discussed a common approach to soil protection across the Union with the Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, Anna Paula Zacarias, representing the EU Council Presidency, and the European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius. In a report to the media, the European Parliament pointed out that effective soil protection is essential to address soil degradation and erosion while preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment, human health and natural resources. Healthy soil is essential to achieving the goals of the European Green Agreement, such as climate neutrality, the restoration of biodiversity, the goal of zero pollution in the interests of a toxic environment, healthy and sustainable food systems and a resilient environment.