Brussels, 30/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - In order to carry out a comprehensive review of European policies on air quality and fix new long-term objectives for the EU (beyond 2020), the Commission wishes to know the strengths and weaknesses of the legislation currently in force and in its implementation. On Thursday 30 June, it triggered a public consultation exercise to gather the most possible views on the best ways to improve legislation in the interest of public health and the environment.
Janez Potoènik, Environment Commissioner, said: “Looking back at Europe's record in improving air quality, we have much to be proud of. But with 500,000 premature deaths associated with high air pollution from particulate matter, there is clearly much work still to be done.”
The public consultation takes the form of a brief questionnaire for the public at large, but more detailed for the other stakeholders (experts, national administrations, regional and local authorities, researchers, companies, specialised healthy and environmental groups involved in implementation of EU air quality legislation).
Contributions will fuel the preparatory work for the presentation, by 2013 at the latest, of the Commission's new ideas for the future of EU policy on air quality.
The challenge is a sizeable one as, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey on the attitude of EU citizens towards the environment (No365), air pollution is one of the main environmental concerns of Europeans, 49% of whom live in urban areas where the EU's air quality objectives are not always reached. The consultation questionnaires are accessible on line: http: //ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations_en.htm (A.N./transl.jl)