Brussels, 27/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - After the conciliation procedure, Parliament and Council were able to reach agreement on the draft directive setting targets for ozone concentration in the atmosphere, in order to move closer to the long-term target of not exceeding the critical levels that are damaging to human health and the environment. The compromise outlines the following for the three areas which had been problematic:
How compulsory it should be to reach targets by 2010. The compromise stipulates that Member States will be obliged to reach the target values by 2010 except where this is not feasible using proportionate measures (this wording reinforces the binding nature of this obligation compared with the Council's common position);
Maximum time that thresholds can be exceeded. The number of days authorised has been kept at 25 days a year.
Introducing a deadline for meeting long-term targets. The year 2020 has been laid down as the reference year for research that has to be carried out and a review of the directive, where necessary.
The directive lays down a threshold for the public to be kept informed - 180 micrgrammes/m3 on average in one hour with a warning level of 240 microgrammes/m3 on average in one hour); target values of 120 micrgrammes/m3 for protecting human health and 18,000 microgrammes/m3 for protecting plant life); and long-term targets of 120 microgrammes/m3 for protecting human health and 6,000 micrgraammes/m3 for plant life. The long-term targets are the levels below which it is unlikely there would be any adverse impact on human health or the environment, according to current scientific knowledge.
Along with the National Emissions Ceilings Directive and the Large Combustion Plant Directive adopted on 21 September, the Ozone in the Atmosphere Directive forms part of a package to sharply improve air quality. The compromise must now be accepted by Parliament (qualified majority of votes cast) and the Council (qualified majority).