Brussels, 06.12.2021. Since 2002, World Soil Day has taken place every year on December 5. MEP Manuela Ripa took this opportunity to speak about the importance of a European soil protection law in the Environment Committee the following day: "I very much welcome the fact that the European Commission is finally announcing a legislative proposal for urgently needed EU soil protection. Binding and EU-wide soil protection is an essential and previously missing piece of the puzzle for the protection of our livelihood, our climate, our biodiversity and our waters."

"Soil protection is inherently cross-border, because soils know no borders. Soil protection must therefore no longer be left to the EU Member States alone, which have done far too little," continued Ripa. Previous attempts by the EU to present binding measures have failed due to resistance from national governments as well as a strong agricultural lobby. According to the coalition agreement, Germany promises no more blockades in the European Council - let's hope that other countries such as France, Austria and the Netherlands do the same.

"The Parliament has long fought for a legal framework to protect soils, so I am all the more grateful that the Commission is finally sending a clear signal for the European Green Deal and giving soil the same importance as air and water. Because without healthy soils, we will not achieve our climate and biodiversity goals," Ripa, who as shadow rapporteur for the Greens/EFA Group is responsible for the European Parliament's resolution on soil protection, once again made clear.

The ÖDP politician also calls on the Commission to make the problem of increasing land sealing a focus of the legislative proposal and to oblige the member states to always give preference to brownfields and vacant land over unsealed land. "By 2030, we need a 50% reduction in daily land consumption and well before 2050 there must be net zero land consumption and a circular economy. Since soil protection concerns all citizens, there must also be a right to citizen participation in spatial planning procedures," Ripa continues, concluding with clear words: "We have lost a lot of valuable time for the protection of our vital resource soil. The Commission must present its proposal by the beginning of 2023 so that we can get legislation passed before the end of this legislative period!"

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