On Thursday 12 May, the Court of Justice of the European Union condemned Italy and Bulgaria for systematic and persistent breach of the annual limit value for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) respectively.
Case C-573/19. The Italian agglomerations where infringements of Directive 2008/50 on ambient air quality assessment and management were found are as follows: Turin, Milan, Bergamo, Brescia, Genoa, Florence, Rome and Catania, with varying durations between 2010 and 2018.
In particular, Italy is singled out for failing to ensure that air quality plans include appropriate measures to ensure that the period during which the limit value is exceeded is as short as possible.
See the judgment (in French): https://aeur.eu/f/1m4
Case C-730/19. In Bulgaria, the hourly limit value for sulphur dioxide (SO2) was exceeded between 2007 and 2018 in the south-eastern part of the country (BG0006), contrary to the provisions of Directive 2008/50.
Sofia is singled out for failing to ensure that air quality plans include appropriate measures to ensure that the period during which these limit values are exceeded is as short as possible.
See the judgment (in French): https://aeur.eu/f/1m5 (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)