Brussels, 04/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Commission has asked the Council to approve the Community signing up to the international protocol on reducing acidification, euthrophication and ground-level ozone (Gothenburg Protocol, Annex to the International Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution 1979). The College of Commissioners adopted the Draft Council Decision on Wednesday by written procedure.
The Gothenburg Protocol was adopted on 30 November 1999 and sets emission ceilings for sulphur, NOx, VOC emissions and ammonia until 2010.
Community legislation adopted in 2001 against acidification, euthrophication and ground-level ozone only partially complies with the objectives of the Protocol. Directive 2001/80 proposes reducing emissions of certain pollutants (e.g. combustion plants setting new ranges of abatement techniques compatible with the Protocol), but Directive 2001/81/EC, however, sets much less demanding national emission ceilings than those in the Protocol.
The Proposal for a Decision, submitted for the approval of the Council, stressed that the implementation of the Protocol would help the Community to achieve its objectives in environmental protection and human health.