“Land is our most important heritage and needs to be protected”

The land is our most important heritage and needs to be protected. Despite this, Europaforum Norra Sverige, which includes Norrbotten, believes that the EU's proposal for a land directive should be withdrawn. It should at least be revised in several areas.

The EU Commission's proposal for a soil directive covers soil across the EU, satellite monitoring, regular soil sampling and the possibility for the EU to take soil samples from individual landowners. The next step proposes mandatory measures and the possibility of sanctions against landowners.

– In northern Sweden, the Land Directive also risks becoming more expensive because we have fewer citizens per square kilometer than anywhere else in the EU. This situation needs to be taken into account. We also already have a well-developed monitoring of land in Sweden. New systems should be able to harmonize better with this, says Isak Utsi, chairman of the municipal board in Arjeplog municipality and rapporteur in EFNS, Norrbotten.

Isak Utsi, municipal councilor in Arjeplog and rapporteur for EFNS. Photo: Grit Martin.

The EU should instead be able to receive information on soil health from member states and compile the data, according to EFNS in a position paper adopted on October 6.

EFNS also questions whether it is reasonable to use the same model for monitoring across the EU. It is a geographically diverse area with many soil types. Mountain and arctic forests have a weak connection to fruit growing in southern Europe. The proposal risks wasting resources on measuring indicators without value. It is better to focus them on locally known problems, says EFNS.

“One solution could be, for example, to establish a smaller number of common criteria. They could be supplemented by giving member states the opportunity to develop additional criteria based on prevailing local conditions,” says Isak Utsi.

EFNS positions in brief

• In Sweden, with a lot of forestry and agriculture, we are well aware of the importance of soil. We regularly measure its condition. We generally have good soil health in Sweden, according to Swedish soil experts.
• The indicators in the directive appear to be adapted for agricultural land. They are directly incorrect for forest land in Sweden.
• Agricultural land in the EU is already environmentally managed through the Common Agricultural Policy. The measures specified in the Soil Directive for soil improvement are already well known in agriculture. These may include the importance of crop rotation, nitrogen-fixing plants such as clover in grassland, and limited ploughing.
• EFNS is very critical of increased central monitoring of all land in Sweden by satellite. This could affect integrity, especially in the long term. Such monitoring should be held nationally.
• EFNS supports Sweden's national views on the importance of respecting the competence of member states and existing national processes in soil health. The Soil Directive may regulate issues that we ourselves have the competence to handle.
• EFNS therefore calls for great flexibility in any possible implementation. The Swedish municipal autonomy and the municipal planning monopoly need to be respected. EFNS believes in particular that the Land Directive should enable, and not hinder, increased social development. This applies not least to the military buildup within the total defense and investments aimed at the green transition.

The position was adopted at the Europaforum Northern Sweden meeting on October 6, 2023.

Text: Linda Henriksson, Carina Christiansen 

Facts: EFNS

European Forum Northern Sweden (EFNS) is a political network that brings together Sweden's four northernmost regions to safeguard northern Sweden's interests in issues with a clear EU dimension. The forum has for more than 20 years presented northern Sweden's positions with a common voice.

What makes the network unique is EFNS's ability to collaborate across party lines between actors at local, regional, national and EU levels and with the aim of promoting northern Sweden's interests in EU politics.