In an attempt to help curb the phenomenon of the rapid deterioration of soil quality from which the territory of the member states of the Union is increasingly suffering, the European Commission has presented for the first time a strategy for the protection of European soils , aimed at “conserving, protecting and restoring the healthy soils that serve as a support for human activities and for ecosystems”. As part of the 6th Programme of action for the environment, Brussels intends to create a common framework at the Community level within which national governments can adopt the locally most appropriate measures, without prejudice to the sharing of research. The major threats to the soil are erosion, landslide, contamination, diminution in the quantity of organic matter, salinization and impermeability. It is recognized that man’s contribution to soil deterioration (industry, tourism, urban development, intensive agriculture) is enormous; with the proposed framework Directive that accompanies the strategy the Executive is asking member states to introduce shared provisions to curb a phenomenon that now affects 17% of the surface area of Europe.
