Brussels, 18/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - Belgium and Bulgaria have been referred to the EU Court of Justice for persistent failure to comply with air quality legislation (Directive 2008/50/EC), the European Commission announced on Thursday 18 June.
The Commission says these two member states have recorded persistently high levels of dust particles, PM10, which pose a major risk to public health. These tiny particles, which result mostly from human activities such as transport, industry and domestic heating, can cause respiratory problems, cardiovascular problems, lung cancer and premature death.
The limit values for PM10 (40 micrograms per cubic metre of air annually and 50 micrograms per cubic metre per day), which came into force in 2005, must not be exceeded more than 35 times per year.
Bulgaria has taken measures that have reduced PM10 emissions registered at most monitoring points since 2011 but progress is insufficient. Despite a reasoned opinion sent in July 2014, the data show persisting non-compliance with the annual and/or daily limit values for PM10 in all the country's 6 zones and agglomerations other than in Varna, which complied with the annual limit value once - in 2009.
Belgium has shown improvement in recent years. Only 3 zones and agglomerations (Brussels, Ghent port zone and Roeselare port zone) show continued failures to meet the targets. This, however, is still not good enough, especially as a reasoned opinion was sent in February 2014.
There are 16 open infringement actions for PM10 at various stages, against Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia and Slovenia. Belgium and Bulgaria are the first cases of this type to be brought to Court. (Aminata Niang)