Air pollution levels in the EU

22.2.2013

Question for written answer E-001982-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Nuno Melo (PPE)

The Commission is to take action against 17 of the 27 Member States for failing to meet air pollution standards.

In many European countries air pollution continues to exceed legal limits, reducing the life expectancy of those living in the most polluted cities by two years.

Although emissions have been falling, data from the European Environment Agency show that some pollutants, such as particulates, ozone (O₃) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), remain a cause for concern as they are still found in the air at alarming levels.

The EU’s current limits for individual exposure to air pollution are way above what the World Health Organisation (WHO) considers to be safe.

Around 430 000 people die prematurely in Europe every year because of overexposure to very fine particles, according to a study published in 2012 as part of the WHO’s global burden of disease project.

As 2013 is the European Year of Air and given that the Commission intends to redefine the current strategy, originally developed in 2005, what measures is it planning in order to reduce air pollution?

OJ C 372 E, 19/12/2013