Brussels, 08/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - In the opinion of 56% of EU citizens, air quality has deteriorated over the last ten years, 72% of Europeans are not satisfied with the work of public authorities to improve air quality and 79% think that the EU should propose additional measures to tackle air pollution. These three observations were highlighted by a Eurobarometer poll, the results of which were published by the European Commission on Tuesday 8 January and come at an opportune moment as the Commission is preparing to review EU legislation on this. “Citizens want us to act, and we will respond by reviewing our air policy in 2013. They are asking for more measures in key sectors, and better information on policy effectiveness”, said European Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potocnik.
When citizens were asked about the most effective means for fighting air pollution, 43% supported stricter controls on emissions from the industrial and energy sectors. The main causes of air pollution are emissions from vehicles (96%), from the industrial sector (92%) and from international transport (86%).
Only 2% of the people surveyed said that they knew of the existence of European standards on air quality and the same number said that they knew national emissions ceilings existed. Among those surveyed 58% considered that it would be fitting to strengthen European standards and 51% would request national emissions ceilings to be strengthened.
The poll was carried out in autumn 2012 on over 25,000 citizens from the 27 EU member states. Its results will be used by the Commission in its reassessment of the EU's policy. (AN/transl.fl)