Several environmental and economic proposals for legislation may be withdrawn as part of a ‘regulatory fitness check', the European Commission announced today (2 October).
Among the proposals being considered for withdrawal is the soil directive, which has been stalled since 2007 when Germany led a blocking minority against it. An attempt by the Spanish presidency of the Council of Ministers to revive it in 2009 was also blocked. The legislation would require landowners to protect soil from degradation, which has sparked fears of administrative burden.
Last month a report from the Commission's Joint Research Centre found that soil biodiversity may be under threat in over half of EU territory. The Commission estimates that soil deterioration is costing €38 billion a year in Europe.
The Commission may also withdraw a proposal on access to environmental justice, which has been stalled since 2003. The proposal was meant to implement part of the international Aarhus Convention, which requires that citizens have access to the environmental decisions made by their governments. Implementation of this across the EU is incomplete and piecemeal, according to the convention's compliance committee.
Environmental campaigners criticised plans to scrap the proposals. “Today's...proposal signals plans for dangerous environmental deregulation,” said Ariel Brunner, head of EU policy at BirdLife Europe. “In an attempt to ensure his re-election campaign, EU President Barroso seems to be ready to sacrifice Europe's environmental ambitions and the interests of European citizens.”
The communication says the Commission will also consider withdrawing two proposals regarding information to the general public on medicinal products subject to prescription, which were put forward in 2012 but are stalled in the Council. A proposed regulation on European statistics on safety from crime and a proposed directive simplifying VAT obligations may also be withdrawn.
The strategy also proposes repealing existing legislation including a regulation on steel statistics, and a directive on the promotion of clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles.
The Commission may change its mind about withdrawing the soil proposal should Germany end up with a Christian Democrat/Green coalition government. It is thought that the Greens would demand support for the EU soil directive as a concession for joining the government.
