Air pollution

12.4.2017

Question for written answer E-002678-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Miriam Dalli (S&D)

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) recently announced that it will investigate the EU’s fight against air pollution, which is the biggest cause of premature death in urban Europe and responsible for the deaths of half a million Europeans every year.

The ECA also suspects that EU finances could be better spent on efforts to improve air quality, and has tried to investigate over EUR 2 billion in EU expenditure that was earmarked under the general heading of improving air quality.

1. How does the Commission intend to broadly address the problem of air pollution and how will it assist Member States in sharing expertise in this area?

2. What is the current status of the 2008 Air Quality Directive and the National Emissions Ceiling Directive?