The European Commission presented two reports, one with the political aspects and a second one with the scientific aspects, on the worrying phenomenon of the soil degradation in the EU. The reports show that between 1990 and 2006, at least 275 hectares of soil per day were permanently lost through soil sealing – the covering of fertile land by impermeable material – amounting to 1,000 km² per year, or an area the size of Cyprus every ten years.

The European Commission published two reports on the soil degradation within the EU which highlight that it is a worrying phenomenon in the EU. According to the reports, at least 275 hectares of soil per day were permanently lost through soil sealing – the covering of fertile land by impermeable material between 1990 and 2006, and soil erosion by water is estimated to affect 1.3 million km² in Europe, an area equivalent to 2.5 times the size of France.

In addition, the two reports, on the policy and scientific aspects, underline the need for action to prevent the ongoing deterioration of Europe's soils. Erosion, soil sealing and acidification have all increased in the past decade, and the trend is likely to continue unless challenges such as rising land-use, the inefficient use of natural resources and the preservation of organic matter in soil are addressed. According to the policy report, five years after the adoption of a Soil Thematic Strategy, there is still no systematic monitoring and protection of soil quality across Europe. The final assessment of the 6th Community Environment Action Programme (EAP) published in August 2011, showed that the EU environmental legislation shortfalls in implementation by Member States. This means that existing actions are not sufficient to ensure an adequate level of protection for all soil in Europe.

The European Commission assures that it has been working to support soil awareness initiatives, research and monitoring projects. Furthermore, around €3.1 billion has been allocated to the rehabilitation of industrial sites and contaminated land as part of the Cohesion Policy for the period 2007-2013. It also intends to support research and soil monitoring, finalise guidelines on soil sealing and integrate further soil considerations in the upcoming review of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive.