Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-11-18-Speech-2-292"
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"en.20031118.11.2-292"2
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". – Mr President, I thank the European Parliament and, in particular, Mrs Gutiérrez-Cortines, for the preparation of this report. With this, the consultation process on the first phase of the soil thematic strategy will be concluded.
The Commission welcomes Parliament's broad support for the general approach, main objectives and deliverables presented in the communication. This includes the development of a communication on major soil degradation issues such as erosion, contamination and organic matter, as well as a proposal for a soil monitoring directive. The European Parliament recognises the Community dimension for many of the soil degradation processes Europe is faced with. Parliament underlines that soil degradation processes are progressive and often go unnoticed, sometimes for many decades. This distinguishes soil from other environmental components and goes some way towards explaining why air and water policies were developed earlier.
The Commission shares the view that any approach to soil protection must take account of the considerable diversity of regional and local conditions that exist across Europe. The European strategy for soil protection does not mean a standardised, one-size-fits-all approach. The Commission fully agrees that it is vital to apply an integrated approach to soil, based on sustainable development. The multifunctional and cross-sectoral approach to soil is of primary importance. The economic and social implications of soil degradation are therefore an integral part of the soil thematic strategy.
The numerous detailed comments, requests and additional proposals contained in Parliament's resolution will be fully taken into account in the future development of the soil thematic strategy. In this context the Commission welcomes Parliament's support for the knowledge-based approach. The Commission will examine the detailed proposals for a soil catalogue, soil mapping and zoning, which should be geared to solving specific soil degradation problems. We also recognise that it is necessary to gain greater understanding of soil biodiversity, the nutrient and water cycles and the issues related to the use of compost.
The Commission welcomes the important role attributed to agriculture and forestry in revitalising soil – in particular, the call to make cross-compliance compulsory for all payments under the common agricultural policy; the integration of specific measures for soil and water protection into the CAP; the localised diagnosis of the impacts of CAP reform on soil health; and the definition of patterns of agriculture and forestry, in line with soil characteristics.
The Commission welcomes Parliament's request to bring land use into line with soil characteristics, to integrate soil protection objectives into spatial planning strategies, to prevent the indiscriminate sealing of land and to prevent the bisection of ecosystems, waterflows and landscapes by road and urban infrastructures. The Commission recognises the need to develop more leadership in Europe in the area of spatial planning.
The Commission fully subscribes to the role attributed to soil protection in the context of major processes such as biodiversity decline, climate change, desertification, coastal erosion and forest fires. The Commission recognises, in particular, the need for additional action to combat desertification in Europe and will consider Parliament's urgent call for an immediate communication and Community action programme on desertification.
In conclusion I would like to underline that I consider Parliament's resolution as an important input to our work. We can now further direct our work on the development of the next stage on the soil strategy."@en1
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