Strasbourg, 16/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption of the report by Finnish Socialist Riitta Myller, the European Parliament strengthened at first reading the draft directive that establishes national emission ceilings for some atmospheric pollutants (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds, and ammoniac). It calls for the reductions in emissions of acid and eutrophication pollutants and ozone precursors to be targeted in principle so that they do not reach critical levels in any part of the Community in 2015, and to ban anything over this from the year 2020 (the initial text of the Commission did not set buffer dates). The Parliament has abolished the exemptions for air and maritime transport. By 2004, the Commission should revise the ceilings, the interim environmental objectives and the measures to be taken in order to guarantee respect of emission ceilings. On the other hand, the plenary did not follow its rapporteur, who also requested that the Commission should determine by 1 January 2003 a harmonised regime for sanctions.