Air quality: improvement of comparability and transparency at European level (reduction of emissions)

OBJECTIVE: to establish a reciprocal exchange of information and data measuring ambient air pollution within the Member States. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Decision 97/101/EC establishing a reciprocal exchange of information and data from networks and individual stations measuring ambient air pollution within the Member States. SUBSTANCE: the decision establishes a reciprocal exchange of information and data from networks and individual stations measuring ambient air pollution. This reciprocal exchange covers: a) networks and stations and b) measurements of air quality obtained from the stations. The decision makes a distinction between pollutants covered by the directives on ambient air quality for which the exchange of information is compulsory and those which are not covered and for which the exchange of information is not required to the extent that they are measured by the Member States. The information gathered will be accessible to the public via an information system set up by the European Environment Agency; it may also be supplied by the Agency on request. The Commission will prepare a general report intended for the public each year, summarizing the collected data and giving an overview of the trends in air quality in the European Union. At the latest five years after the entry into force of the decision the Commission will submit to the Council a report on its implementation. ENTRY INTO FORCE: the decision is applicable with effect from 01/01/1997. �