Air quality - revision of the new air quality directives

On 21 September 2005 the European Commission published a directive proposal on air quality, which will revise existing air quality legislation and combine several directives into one. The so-called Directive on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe (COM(2005) 447) is currently in the decision-making process of the EU institutions. This was the first directive proposal to be published as a consequence of the Thematic Strategy on air pollution.

The Commission proposed to introduce a new air quality standard for fine particles (PM2.5). At the same time however, it also proposed to introduce time-extensions for meeting the existing limit values for coarse particles (PM10), which became legally binding in 2005.

The EEB has criticized the Commission for proposing and the European Parliament for even further extending these time-extensions.

Implementing the existing air quality directives to reduce particles

The new air quality directive mentioned above will summarise and consolidate four existing directives (1996/62/EC, 1999/30/EC, 2000/69/EC and 2001/81/EC) as well as the Council Decision 97/101/EC on the exchange of information and data on ambient air pollution. These directives set limit and target values for some of the most important pollutants in outdoor air.

The EEB and it's member organisations are actively following how member states implement the so-called first daughter directive on air quality (1999/30/EC), which sets limit values for coarse particles (PM10). In a report called "Particle reduction plans in Europe" we have analysed what the EU Member States did to meet the limits. The report found that pollution reduction plans have been made too late, are not concrete enough and lack dedicated financing.

In November 2005 we have organised the conference "Air and City in Brussels and Europe: can our cities fight against air pollution?". This conference was hosted together with the Region of Brussels.