Directive (EU) 2025/2360 of the European Parliament and of the Council, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 26 November 2025, introduces for the first time a single regulatory framework dedicated to soil monitoring, soil resilience and the management of contaminated sites.It applies to all soils present on the territory of the Member States and must be transposed by 17 December 2028.
The objectives of the new directive 2025/2360
The key objective of the new Directive (EU) 2025/2360 is to establish a robust and coherent soil monitoring framework across the EU, with the aim of “reducing contamination to levels not considered harmful to human health and the environment , continuously improving soil health in the Union, maintaining healthy soils and preventing and addressing all aspects of land degradation, with a view to achieving healthy soils by 2050, so that they can provide multiple ecosystem services on a scale sufficient to meet environmental, social and economic needs, can prevent and mitigate the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss , and can increase resilience in terms of natural disasters and food security”.The three main pillars of the Soil Directive
According to the official text, the directive establishes rules on:- soil health monitoring and assessment;
- soil resilience;
- management of contaminated sites.
Terms and obligations for the implementation of the Directive
EU Directive 2025/2360 must be transposed by 17 December 2028 .Member States will therefore have three years to define the thresholds for the basic parameters and to establish registers of potentially contaminated sites.
Monitoring for emerging contaminants, such as PFAS and pesticides, will also be mandatory .
Finally, adequate measures will need to be put in place to implement land take mitigation principles, focusing in particular on monitoring soil sealing (i.e., covering with non-permeable materials such as concrete or asphalt) and soil removal (i.e., the removal of soil during activities such as construction).
Soil: definition, health and resilience
EU Directive 2025/2360 defines soil as the uppermost layer of the earth's crust located between the bedrock or parent material and the earth's surface , consisting of mineral components, organic matter, water, air and living organisms.The term “ soil health ” refers to the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of soil that determine its ability to function as an essential living system and provide ecosystem services.
When we talk about soil resilience we mean the ability of the soil to preserve its functions and maintain its capacity to provide ecosystem services , as well as to resist and recover from disturbances.
Land degradation in the European Union: impact and value
It is estimated that currently between 60% and 70% of soils in the European Union are degraded and continue to degrade, resulting in costs estimated at tens of billions of euros per year.Causes and consequences of soil degradation
Land degradation has a negative impact on human health and the environment by compromising the essential ecosystem services provided by soils.The main aspects of degradation can be divided into:
- Physical Degradation : waterproofing and artificialization, erosion, compaction and reduction of water retention and infiltration capacity.
- Chemical and Biological Degradation : excess or depletion of nutrients, acidification, salinization, contamination, as well as the loss of soil organic carbon and biodiversity.
The importance of healthy soils
Healthy soils are essential to the environment due to their crucial role in supporting:- Biodiversity : They host over 25% of global biodiversity (microorganisms, earthworms, insects, etc.), contributing to ecological diversity and the stability of ecosystems.
- Climate : Soils are the second largest carbon sink on the planet. Their ability to capture and store carbon makes them essential for achieving the EU's climate change goals. (Source: https://www.insic.it)