Soil protection in the context of European Union legislation – Challenges and strategic approaches
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Soil is a non-renewable resource and a dynamic ecosystem that provides key functions for human society and the survival of natural systems, including food production, water filtration, climate regulation and biodiversity. However, soil resources in the European Union (EU) are facing increasing degradation due to erosion, pollution, urbanisation and intensive agriculture, which threaten their long-term sustainability. Available data show that these processes have accelerated in recent decades and without intervention, the trend is likely to worsen.Although the acquis communautaire contains some provisions on soil protection (e.g. in the water, waste and agricultural policy directives), a comprehensive legal framework specifically targeting soil at EU level has been lacking. This article analyses the current legislative gap and a common strategy for the protection and sustainable use of soil. The strategy is based on the principles of integrating soil issues into other EU policies, preserving soil functions, preventing risk factors, mitigating their impacts and revitalizing degraded areas to a level compatible with current and future uses.The article assesses the application of existing instruments, such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) or the European Green Deal, and also addresses the issue of the entry into force of Directive (EU) 2025/2360 of the European Parliament and of the Council on soil monitoring and resilience (Soil Monitoring Law) of 16 December 2025, which represents a historic milestone in the environmental policy of the European Union. It is the first comprehensive legal framework at EU level. Attention is also paid to effective implementation, including monitoring, financing and cross-sectoral cooperation, in order to ensure the resilience of soil systems to climate change and anthropogenic pressures.
Authors: Miloš SVRČEK, Martin NEMKY
Institution: University of Security Management in Košice
Language: Slovak
Topic: Environmental law and policy
Subfield: Law
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7118055736