Air pollution: Clean air for Europe CAFE programme, air quality

The European Parliament adopted the report by Mr Jim FITZSIMONS (UEN, Ire) on the Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) Programme. Overall, the Parliament welcomes the Commission's proposal to combine the majority of its measures against air pollution within one thematic strategy which will provide a useful tool for the Community to use in attaining its long-term objective of critical loads and levels for the four air pollutants covered by the directive on national emission ceilings and the secondary air pollutants arising from these four pollutants. In addition, it notes that several Community legislative texts concerning the combating of air pollution are due to be revised in 2004. It expects the Commission to present its review of the legislation in force followed by proposals for revision so that the revised legislation may be applied as swiftly as possible. Moreover, resolution notes that the Commission's proposals concerning the European programme on climate change and the emission rights exchange system and calls on the Parliament and the Council, in light of the current levels of air pollution and the role played by the European Union in order to reach an agreement at the last Conference of parties to the Kyoto Protocol held in Bonn, to adopt ambitious, balanced legislation on the basis of these two proposals to enable the European Union to play the leading role which it has assumed in combating climate change. It is suggested that enhanced co-operation with the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) is essential if CAFE is to add real value to policy-making and avoid wastage of resources. It is also considered necessary to set up a monitoring system to ensure that the programme operates effectively. Parliament commends the Commission for fully involving the candidate countries in the CAFE programme. It notes that there was no funding for combating air pollution in the budget of the Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession (ISPA) for the year 2000, therefore it calls on the Commission and the candidate countries to promote projects concerning the combating of air pollution so that the candidate countries can play their part in combating air pollution and in the "Clean Air for Europe" programme. Lastly, the Parliament expresses some concern regarding the financing of the CAFE programme, especially concerning funding needed to ensure the participation and active involvement of candidate countries and NGOs in the programme and its working groups.�