Farmers Emerge Victorious as EU Waters Down Soil Health Rules After Intense Lobbying

The European Commission, while welcoming the political agreement between the European Parliament and EU Agriculture Ministers on the new Soil Monitoring Law, must accept a relaxation of the rules it intended to be stricter but which the agricultural sector opposed. Negotiations lasted two years.

 

By eEuropa – 2 MIN READ

Brussels, 10 April 2025 – Europe has taken a decisive step toward protecting its soils—a vital resource for agriculture, biodiversity, and climate resilience.

On 10 April 2025, the European Commission announced the provisional political agreement between the Parliament and Council on the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive, which aims to ensure healthier soils by 2030. The Proposal for a Directive COM(2023) 0416 was presented by the Commission in 2023 and had a very long negotiation between the two EU legislators

With 60-70% of EU soils currently unhealthy due to erosion, pollution, and urban sprawl, the new law establishes a flexible framework for assessing soil health while allowing member states to adapt strategies to local conditions. The goal is to combat declining fertility, desertification, and extreme weather impacts, which cost the EU over €50 billion annually.

Key measures include:

• A harmonized soil monitoring system with clear health indicators;
• Support for farmers to improve soil resilience;
• Reduced land consumption, balancing development and preservation;
• Remediation of contaminated sites, enforcing the “polluter pays” principle.

The directive avoids imposing direct obligations on landowners and farmers, instead offering phased implementation and technical assistance for struggling member states. Once adopted, countries will have three years to transpose it into national law.

 

Long and difficult negotiations

The new EU law endured two years of grueling negotiations between the European Parliament and Council—revealing deep divides over how to protect Europe’s degrading soils.

 

Why So Contentious?

1️⃣ Farmer Pushback:

• Early proposals for mandatory soil health obligations sparked fierce resistance from agricultural groups and conservative lawmakers
• Final text removed direct requirements for landowners after intense lobbying

2️⃣ Cost Concerns:

• Southern states warned soil testing would burden small farmers
• Compromise: EU funding for sampling in poorer regions

3️⃣ Science vs. Flexibility:

• Parliament demanded strict, uniform metrics
• Council insisted on national adaptation
• Result: Core indicators with local flexibility

4️⃣ Last-Minute Hurdles:

• “Land take” provisions nearly collapsed talks in final weeks
• Deal allows infrastructure projects if soil impacts are mitigated

What Changed?

The final directive reflects hard-won compromises:

• Extended deadlines (3+ years for implementation)
• No penalties for failing to improve soil health
• Voluntary measures favored over binding targets

 

Environmental groups call it “watered down but vital,” while farm lobbies celebrate avoiding “red tape.” With 60% of EU soils currently unhealthy, the deal represents Europe’s best—if imperfect—chance to reverse decades of degradation.

As a key pillar of the European Green Deal, this law marks a turning point for food security and ecological transition—transforming degraded soils into a foundation for sustainability.

Go To the EU Agriculture and Food Policy