Air pollution : national emission ceilings for pollutant gas (SO2, NOx, NH3, VOCs)

The committee adopted the report (codecision procedure, first reading) by Riitta MYLLER (PES, FIN) approving, with amendments, the proposal for a directive on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants (a daughter directive under the air quality framework directive). The committee wanted the article which states the goal of the directive as being "no exceedance of critical levels" for acidification and eutrophication in the Community to include a target date of 2010. It deleted exceptions allowed by the Commission, namely sea and air transport, which it regarded as major sources of pollution. The report called on the Commission to propose new amendments to the directive by 2004, thereby enabling it to review the ceilings laid down in the text, the interim environmental targets and the new measures taken to ensure compliance with these ceilings. Any such adjustments would enable the directive to take account of scientific and technical progress and possibly allow the targets to be achieved by 2010. The committee also felt that rules on penalties for infringements of the directive should be proposed by 1 January 2003, whereas the Commission had not stipulated a date. Lastly, the report aimed to include accession countries in drawing up and implementing action plans and informing the public, arguing that, as air pollution did not stop at national borders, this would help to achieve the goals of the directive within the envisaged timetable.�