Brussels, 11/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - The way is now open to formal adoption of a new directive on ambient air quality - pivotal legislation of the thematic strategy for combating air pollution in Europe - which for the very first time establishes limit values for fine particles, which are more harmful for human health.
On 11 December in Strasbourg, in line with recommendations by the rapporteur, Holger Krahmer (ALDE, Germany), the Parliament approved by a large majority (619 votes to 33 and 4 abstentions) the compromise reached at second reading with the Council to combine measures for improving air quality, and derogations for taking into account the difficulties experienced by some member states in complying with current legislation.
The text of the agreement provides for reduced concentrations in the air of PM 2.5 fine particles (of a diameter less than 2.5 micrometres) and other gases thought to be at the origin of the rise in respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema.
With regard to the PM 2.5, MEPs and the Council agreed, initially, to establish an indicative limit value of 25 micrograms from 2010 on. This target value, however, would become binding as of 2015, the date foreseen for revision of the directive. On this point, the Parliament revised downward the ambition shown by its environment committee (EUROPE 9521) to come into line with the Council's wishes. MEPs, however, managed to add a second indicative limit value of 20 microgreams/m3 to be reached five years later, i.e. in 2020. It will be up to the European Commission to re-examine this limit value in 2013 to confirm its level or, on the other hand, to call for it to be changed. In either case, in accordance with the EP/Council agreement, member states will be under an obligation to reduce levels of exposure to PM 2.5 in urban areas by 20% on average compared to the 2010 figures, by 2020.
MEPs also succeeded in having the notion of an “exposure concentration obligation” - “a level fixed on the basis of the average exposure indicator with the aim of reducing harmful effects on human health” - introduced. Member states will have to ensure that exposure levels in urban area fall below 20 microgrammes/m3 by 2020. In 2013, this exposure concentration obligation will also be assessed by the Commission.
With regard to larger particles (PM10) already covered by current legislation, the text retains the status quo with an annual average limit value of 40 microgrammes/m3, without setting any date for improvement. Daily limits of these particles, set at 50 microgrammes/m3 should not be exceeded more than 35 times per year.
The Parliament and Council agreed on providing for a possible temporary derogation of three years for PM10 limit values in areas or built up areas where are unable to comply with pollution criteria “because of site-specific dispersion characteristics, adverse climatic conditions or transboundary contributions”.
The Greens/EFA group, disappointed that the final agreement did not improve the level of protection from currently regulated pollutants, nonetheless believes that the Parliament has limited the damage, by introducing monitoring obligations and limits for new pollutants, especially for PM2.5. “On first reading, the Parliament tried to weaken a Commission proposal, which itself did not try to achieve much. Fortunately, this attempt has not been successful,” said Marie-Ann Isler Béguin (Greens, France).
The European Commission welcomed that the agreement negotiated between the Portuguese presidency and the Parliament had been confirmed, and saw in it a step forward for human health. In a press release, Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas welcomed the fact that the agreement allowed for the introduction, at appropriate times, of ambitious but realistic standards to combat pollution by PM2.5 particles.
Once adopted, the directive will serve the EU's ambition on better legislation since it will replace five existing texts on the assessment and management of ambient air quality, authorised limit values of other pollutants in the ambient air (ozone, sulphurous anhydride, sodium dioxide and sodium oxides, lead, benzene and carbon monoxide) and reciprocal exchange of information and data among member states on ambient air pollution. (A.N.)