Air pollution problem in Slavonski Brod

14.1.2016

Question for written answer E-000268-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Andrej Plenković (PPE) , Dubravka Šuica (PPE) , Ivana Maletić (PPE) , Davor Ivo Stier (PPE) , Marijana Petir (PPE)

According to data published on the website of the Chinese company Aqicn, which measures air quality throughout the world, and on the basis of information which we received from the Mayor of Slavonski Brod, on 8 January 2016, a result of 261 on the air pollution index was recorded in Slavonski Brod. Air pollution originating in the oil refinery in the neighbouring town of BosanskiBrod, just across the border in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has long been a problem for the residents of Brod‐Posavina county. It is a problem which we, as MEPs, brought to the Commission's attention on 2 October 2013 and 24 July 2014.

Given that the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU has been in force since 1 June 2015, we feel that the Commission must react and step up its efforts to induce Bosnia and Herzegovina to adhere to this legally‐binding agreement.

There is no doubt that exposing people to environmental pollution has a negative impact on their health and quality of life, whether this is short-term exposure to high concentrations or long-term exposure to low concentrations. In this connection, what steps, if any, does the Commission plan to take in order to resolve the problem of air pollution in Slavonski Brod? Likewise, how does the Commission plan to encourage Bosnia and Herzegovina to make progress in terms of its environmental protection policy and adapt it to the EU's acquis communautaire?