The aim of the consultation was to help develop a UK negotiation position on the Commission proposal for a Soil Framework Directive, published as part of the Thematic Strategy on Soil in October 2006.
Summary of EEF’s response
In our response, we recognised the importance of soils as a valuable resource and supported efforts to ensure its sustainable use. However, we did not feel that the Commission’s current proposal for the Soils Framework Directive would help to deliver the desired outcomes, in particular with regards to soil contamination and remediation.
We stressed that in its current form the draft Directive was overly prescriptive, lacked proportionality, with too much focus on the identification of hazards as opposed to risks, and did not take into account of the subsidiarity principle.
An overly centralised and rigid approach, as set out in the proposal, would actually hamper sustainable soil management in the UK and lead to unnecessary administrative burden and preventable costs to industry and national governments.
We therefore recommended that the UK government should be seeking rejection of the proposal in its current form.
The draft Directive is currently considered by the European Parliament and Council as part of their first reading, with votings due to take place over the coming months. EEF will continue to keep members informed on further developments.