Brussels, 19/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - In her report on national emission ceilings of certain acidifying atmospheric pollutants (see EUROPE of 7 March, p.16), adopted on Wednesday at second reading by the EP, Riitta Myller (Social Democrat, Finland) states that "the National Emission Ceilings for 2010 contained in the Common Position are, by far, less ambitious than the figures initially proposed by the Commission". In her view, "the Council text does not contain a date for when the ultimate goal of the legislation - no exceedance of critical loads - should be achieved". The EP's amendments aim to make the Council's common position more binding on this draft directive. The EP recommends fixing the following national ceilings: - 3491 Kilotonnes for sulphur dioxide (SO2) (as opposed to 3850 recommended by the Council); - 5905 for nitrogen oxide (NOx) (compared to 6519); - 5581 for volatile organic compounds (VOC) (compared to 6510). MEPs finally accepted the values set by the Council for ammonia (NH3), namely 3110 Kilotonnes. The Parliament also suggests putting an end to the exemptions allowing the air and sea transport sectors to be excluded from the scope of this directive and sets for 2020 the date for achieving these final targets.