MEPs trying to revive the proposed European soil framework directive have written to urge Gordon Brown to end UK opposition and start engaging in "responsible and constructive" discussions.
The letter comes from newly appointed shadow rapporteurs Bas Eickhout, Corinne Lepage, Vittorio Prodi and Sandrine Bélier who say the Parliament has now decided to revive the draft directive as it stood in November 2007.
It was then halted by opposition from the UK, Austria, France, Germany and Holland, but the Spanish presidency is showing signs of wanting to revive it and the other states' opposition may be fading.
UK opposition has targeted the draft's soil contamination proposals which include identification of contaminated sites and a registry of them, despite major concessions made during earlier negotiations. There was also concern in Whitehall that provisions on soil sealing could hit greenfield house building.
The MEPs told Mr Brown they consider it highly irresponsible to argue that soil degradation has no cross-boundary effects or would be too expensive to deal with.
"The current lack of soil protection in a majority of the EU member states is a direct threat to the continued delivery of the vital services soils provide," say the MEPs. "Delaying legislative action to protect soils will only lead to even higher costs further down the road."
DEFRA, however, said that the UK has always engaged constructively during the negotiations on the directive.
It would continue to do so, it said, to try to address UK concerns and to secure the best possible outcomes for protection and enhancement of UK and European soils - as well as for UK farmers and businesses.
"The Government supports the aims of the EU Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection, and recognises the vital importance of UK and European soils in order to ensure a secure and healthy productive environment in which we and future generations can prosper," said DEFRA.
"The recent publication of Safeguarding our Soils - a Soil Strategy for England underlines our commitment to safeguarding this essential natural resource."
