The key purpose of this report is to provide factual data on the management of contaminated sites in Europe, necessary to implement the 7th Environment Action Programme (EAP), based on replies to the questionnaire by countries in a voluntary basis. It also aims to increase awareness on soil contamination and identify knowledge gaps to enable effective decision and policymaking within the European Union, nationally and locally.

Soil contamination refers to reduced soil quality due to the presence of harmful substances resulting from human activity. This may harm human health or the environment, or otherwise violate private or public interests. It is often difficult to observe because its effects are frequently limited or mitigated by the natural functions of soils, in particular: storing, degrading or immobilising pollutants.