EU Commission to get tougher on air quality laggards – Fitness Check concludes

Brussels, 29 November 2019 – The European Commission has published its conclusions on the Fitness Check of the EU Ambient Air Quality Directive, at the Clean Air Forum in Bratislava today. The Commission backs the importance of the Directive as a major driver for improving air quality across Europe and has urged Member States to step up implementation to protect people’s health.

 

The Staff Working Document finds that the Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) is clearly “fit for purpose”. The document identifies binding air quality standards and the requirements to adopt air quality plans among “the most fundamental and compelling” tools for pushing Member States to tackle air pollution throughout the EU.

 

However, the Commission has flagged that the slow progress in addressing harmful air across Europe has been mainly due to the lack of implementation by Member States.

 

Reacting to the conclusions, ClientEarth lawyer Ugo Taddei said: “The AAQD and its enforcement, both by the Commission and civil society, have been essential to accelerate action to fight harmful air pollution and protect people’s health across the EU.”

 

“But better implementation is key to addressing the ongoing health crisis in Europe. The Commission should immediately produce implementing acts to ensure better air quality monitoring, more harmonised modelling and stronger air quality plans. This lack of compliance is why we and our partners have taken national governments to court and will continue to challenge their failure to address illegal levels of air pollution until all Europeans can breathe clean air.”

 

During the Fitness Check process, concerns were raised about the AAQD’s coherence with agricultural policies and residential biomass burning-related policies. In particular, the Common Agricultural Policy was deemed to potentially hamper the implementation of the AAQD.

 

Margherita Tolotto, Policy Officer for Air and Noise at EEB said: “EU legislation has been the main driver to reduce air pollution over the last decade, but much still needs to be done. We need coherent policies to deliver clean air, and the Common Agricultural Policy is clearly in the spotlight. Full implementation of the National Emissions Ceilings Directive is also key, yet too many Member States are still lagging behind.”

 

The Working Document highlights several lessons learned from the Fitness Check that DG Daniel Calleja Crespo, who presented the document during the Clean Air Forum, said the new Commission would consider as part of the zero pollution strategy under the European Green Deal.

 

The EEB is Europe’s largest network of environmental citizens’ groups with 160 members in more than 35 countries. Together with DUH, FNE and the Lake Constance Foundation, the EEB has launched the ‘Clean Air Farming‘ project to help reduce ammonia and methane emissions from agriculture.

 

About Clean Air Farming
The Project Clean Air Farming (LIFE17 GIE/DE/610 Air & Agriculture) is co-financed by the LIFE-Programme of the European Commission.