Brussels, 29/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - The EU institutions are making slow progress in their negotiations on the review of national emissions ceilings for certain air pollutants which cause 400,000 premature deaths annually in the EU. What is holding the talks up is the need to strike a fair balance between the flexibility required in implementing more stringent emissions ceilings and the need to substantially improve air quality (see EUROPE 11491).
The third trialogue meeting on the review of Directive 2003/35/EC (known as the NEC directive) was held on 25 April and brought progress on the final three points discussed: emissions reporting requirements, access to justice for the various players and penalties for exceeding limit values. The Presidency of the Council reported back to the member states' permanent representatives (Coreper) on 27 April.
In terms of 2030 limit values, methane is the most difficult point, a European source revealed. Parliament called for methane from livestock farming to be excluded from the scope of the directive. The Council, on the other hand, would not countenance differentiating between different sources of methane.
Parliament then said it would be prepared to concede on its amendment on condition that the 2030 reduction target for methane be set at 20%, rather than 33%. Negotiators are moving towards overall flexibility with lower figures for this pollutant which comes from agricultural sources but, as yet, nothing has been decided. The inter-institutional negotiations will continue at a date that is still to be determined. “The bilateral talks are continuing with the delegations and technical meetings will be needed.”
The Commission and the Presidency of the Council are still hoping that a first reading agreement can be reached on this key directive in the “Clean Air for Europe” package before the end of June. Addressing the Parliament's environment committee on 18 April, Commissioner Karmenu Vella expressed his gratitude towards rapporteur Julie Girling (ECR, UK) and the shadow rapporteurs for their efforts in trying to come to an agreement on this text which “aims to halve the number of premature deaths due to air pollution in Europe and to drastically reduce respiratory diseases while at the same time making €140 billion in healthcare savings between now and 2030”. Whether or not first reading agreement is found, it is already clear that the flexibility will mean that it will not be possible to achieve as ambitious a goal as this (see EUROPE 11455). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)