Recent Developments in European Policy Regarding Brownfield Remediation

The presence of brownfields has become a major soil-related problem the world over. Brownfields are found not only in the United States but in every industrialized country and region. In the European Union (EU), a consensus is growing that the redevelopment of former industrial sites can play an important role in the revitalization of certain neighborhoods and areas and in the creation of new industrial sites. This article offers a survey of the recent developments in the European policy regarding brownfield remediation. The best-known attempt for an overall framework law for soil is the Proposal for a Soil Framework Directive. Unexpectedly, this proposal was blocked in 2007 by several countries and seems to be now at a dead end. However, the absence of a community legislation focused specifically on soil protection does not mean that there are no other relevant legal documents regarding the remediation of brownfields. On the contrary, for example, the Environmental Liability Directive is of prime importance for brownfield remediation throughout Europe. Other relevant and interesting legal documents are the Environmental Crime Directive, the European Community guidelines on state aid for environmental protection, and the new Waste Framework Directive. This legal framework is constantly evolving. Therefore, it is important to follow up this development. Brownfield redevelopment in the EU will be a major challenge for policy makers in the near future.