The European Environmental Bureau has rated the Spanish EU presidency as "positive for efforts, negative for result" on its efforts to restart progress on the soil framework directive.
The Bureau, which represents NGOs, assesses EU presidencies at the end of their six-month terms across a range of issues.
It commended its work on biodiversity but complained it failed to make progress on the climate agenda.
"Environmental organisations had high hopes ahead of the Spanish presidency, and they indeed started promisingly," said Samuel Martín-Sosa Rodríguez of Ecologistas en Acción.
"However, the early enthusiasm was soon dampened, and in the end it was much ado about nothing."
EEB secretary-general John Hontelez said the presidency had made commendable efforts on EU soil policy, but the assessment says it was a mixed bag.
"Spain has always been a long standing supporter of an EU soil policy, and EEB applauded that it had the courage to put it back on the Council agenda, after three others had failed," says the assessment.
"The Spanish presidency made a serious attempt to move the discussions forward which in the end failed for one reason: the French decided to continue to support the Germans (and UK, Netherlands and Austria) in their opposition to the Directive. If the Spanish presidency could have done something better it was perhaps to throw its full weight behind this Directive at the highest political level."
