18/07/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 17 July, the Council formally adopted the decision allowing it to ratify, on behalf of the European Union, the amendment to the Gothenburg Protocol to abate acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone that is part of the 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. The green light to ratification given on 6 July made possible this step forward in the protection of human health and the environment (see EUROPE 11823). “The EU is on track thanks to our new ambitious National Emission Ceilings directive”, stated President in office of the Environment Council Siim Kiisler. This directive, adopted in 2016, has already been aligned with the amended protocol with regard to emission reduction commitments for each member state from 2020 to 2029 and sets more ambitious targets from 2030 onwards (see EUROPE 11685). (AN)