Concerted action needed
In the final seminar of Sufalnet in Brussels, representatives of several stakeholder groups formulated addressed messages for the key players in this process. Only when all key players play their own role, the model strategy can grow into a full grown default option for closed landfills.
Message for the European Commission and European nations
The European Commission has made or is working on several directives for environmental issues. The most important one at this moment is the Soil Framework Directive. In the versions that circulate now, Sufalnet believes that the Model Strategy could fit within this Framework Directive and even could benefit from its positive effect on countries where a legal framework for the soil is missing. The hidden scorpion behind the stone is that, because of the focus on risk management, creative options for reuse are reduced or even blocked. The direct question to the European Commission and all bodies involved in the final decisions is to check that the model strategy that is presented in Sufalnet will still fit into the Soil Framework Directive after all the amendments are put into place.
Message for the Regional and Local authorities
The Regional and local authorities play a key role in the success of the reuse of landfills. Sufalnet asks them to be active in addressing the landfills as an environmental issue and at the same time to explore the possibilities with the local stakeholders to reuse the sites in a way that environmental threats are controlled, local communities benefit and the landscape is healed.
Message for the experts
Experts are essential for the further development of the Model Strategy. It is their creativity, practical insights, ability to solve technical problems and willingness to cooperate, that could develop the Model Strategy from its first outset towards a full grown default approach. Sufalnet is welcoming the experts and expert organizations that want to join the Sufalnet network.