Brussels, 19/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - To improve EU air quality, greater focus has to be put on a whole range of relevant EU policies rather than environment policy alone. The National Emissions Ceilings Directive needs to be changed (setting upper limits for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and ammonia) explained the European Commission in a policy debate on Tuesday 18 January 2011 on the future of EU air quality legislation and the effectiveness of short- and medium-term measures for ensuring pure air in Europe at the lowest cost.
After the debate, EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potoènik said that the need for a new overarching air quality policy had been agreed. In explanation, he added that “Measures addressing air pollution extend beyond environmental policies. Actions taken in many other policy areas, such as transport, energy, or agriculture, are crucial to effectiveness. Air quality is an important public health and environmental issue. Air pollution continues to cause damage to people and environment: premature deaths, shorter life expectancy, as well as substantial damage to ecosystems, crops and buildings. These are real losses for our economy, the productivity of our workforce and our nature”. Review of the directive on emissions ceilings has long been planned but “the College of Commissioners believes that a separate review for this directive would not bring the synergies possible with other political measures in train or under consideration”. He said that, despite the general success of the air quality policy, some member states were likely still to exceed the nitrogen oxide ceilings established for 2010 while others would have infringement proceedings brought against them for failing to meet their commitments on particle limit values.
In order to improve the current legislation, the Commission will soon be introducing new measures to help Member States respect air quality rules on sulphur content of fuel and reducing vehicles' and machines' emissions. Implementation of the Energy/Climate package, the new common agricultural policy, use of the cohesion funds and support for R&D are also part of the push to improve air quality in Europe.
EEB disappointed at vagueness of Commission's ideas - In a press release published on Wednesday 19 January 2011, the European Environment Bureau (EEB) says it is deeply disappointed that the Commission has not been more specific about the National Emission Ceilings Directive and that, instead of suggesting an immediate review of the important NEC Directive, the Commissioner preferred to prioritise energy, transport and farm policy without stating how action in these domains could actually improve air quality in the absence of new targets, explained John Hontelez, the EEB secretary general. (A.N./transl.fl)