Brussels, 09/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday the European Commission sent formal requests to six Member States asking them to take steps concerning air quality in Europe, climate change and protection of the ozone layer. These requests take the form of Letters of Formal Notice. Austria, Greece and Luxembourg have missed a June 2002 deadline to provide details of the sulphur content of fuels used in 2001. Under a 1999 directive, by June of each year, Member States are required to report on the sulphur content of fuels used in their territory during the previous calendar year.
Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal have failed to provide information about carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and sequestration for 2001 and 2002, which was required by 31 December 2002 (factual information for 2001 and estimates for 2002), required by the common mechanism for monitoring CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Commission notes that Portugal, Greece and Spain are not doing enough to control the use of ozone-depleting substances. An assessment of reports provided by the countries in question indicates that these Member States have not respected certain important obligations. More specifically, they have not provided adequate information on how controlled substances (such as CFCs, HCFCs, halons and methyl bromide) are recovered, recycled, reclaimed or destroyed. They have also failed to do enough to prevent or minimise methyl bromide leakages. It also appears that Greece is not respecting the prohibition on small canisters of methyl bromide.