Ambient air quality: common strategy for assessment and management

The Commission's amended proposal incorporates the amendments by the European Parliament which: - introduce the need for regular evaluation of quality objectives in the light of new scientific or technical developments; - amend the structure of Annex I making provision for a third series of substances to be considered at a later stage and for the priorities for substances in the Commission's initial proposal to be amended; - involve the European Environment Agency in the various duties allocated to the Commission. However, the Commission did not incorporate amendments concerning: - the participation of the European Parliament either in the process of submission of subsequent proposals by the Commission or in the work of the committee set up in the proposal; - the introduction of the critical load concept and the definition of maximum emission levels or the setting of such levels; - information for the public by the Member States; - the participation of non-governmental organizations (granting of formal status); - the shortening of deadlines for pollutants in the second part of Annex I; - setting an identical time limit for all substances.�