2020/2091(INI) Implementation of the Ambient Air Quality Directives: Directive 2004/107/EC and Directive 2008/50/EC
Lead committee dossier:
Progress: Awaiting committee decision
Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
---|---|---|---|
Lead | ENVI | LÓPEZ Javi ( Unknown Group) | LINS Norbert ( Unknown Group), RIES Frédérique ( Renew), GIEGOLD Sven ( Unknown Group) |
Committee Opinion | TRAN | FIDANZA Carlo ( Unknown Group) | Leila CHAIBI ( GUE/NGL), Gheorghe FALCĂ ( PPE), Pär HOLMGREN ( Verts/ALE), Marianne VIND ( S&D), Vlad GHEORGHE ( RE) |
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54
Legal Basis:
RoP 54Events
2021/02/11
EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2021/01/19
EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2020/06/19
EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
2020/05/29
EP - FIDANZA Carlo (Unknown Group) appointed as rapporteur in TRAN
2020/05/06
EP - LÓPEZ Javi (Unknown Group) appointed as rapporteur in ENVI
Documents
Activities
- Eleonora EVI
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Carlo FIDANZA
Plenary Speeches (0)
- João FERREIRA
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- Sven GIEGOLD
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- Jens GIESEKE
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- Jytte GUTELAND
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- Norbert LINS
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- Javi LÓPEZ
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- Rovana PLUMB
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- Frédérique RIES
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- Christel SCHALDEMOSE
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- Maria SPYRAKI
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- Waldemar TOMASZEWSKI
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- Simona BALDASSARRE
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- Gheorghe FALCĂ
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- Pär HOLMGREN
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- Sylvia LIMMER
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- Edina TÓTH
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- Anna ZALEWSKA
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- Andreas GLÜCK
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- Joachim Stanisław BRUDZIŃSKI
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Catherine GRISET
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Sylwia SPUREK
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Katarina BARLEY
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Günther SIDL
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Petar VITANOV
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Pernille WEISS
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Vlad GHEORGHE
Plenary Speeches (0)
Amendments | Dossier |
314 |
2020/2091(INI)
2021/01/18
TRAN
83 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph -1 (new) -1. Stresses that air pollution is one of the main causes of premature deaths, with the EEA having estimated a number of over 400,000 annual deaths at EU level, which is around ten times more than car accident-related deaths, and amounts to nearly 5 million of Years of Life Lost;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1 a. Reminds that, according to the WHO, air pollution poses the biggest environmental risk to human health. It increases the incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases as well as the risk of heart attacks, cancer, diabetes, obesity and dementia;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1 a. Recalls the huge discrepancies in how and where ambient air pollution is measured and monitored in the EU; considers this to be a serious problem and calls for uniform criteria in how air pollution is measured and where sampling stations are installed;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Welcomes the creation of the Commission's zero-pollution strategy and points to the need for clear objectives to bring about genuine change, accompanied by specific targets for the different Member States and regions;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1 a. Recalls that road transport remains the largest source of nitrogen oxide emissions and the second source of particle emissions in the Union; stresses that tyres and brake-wear emissions also need to be tackled;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1 b. Expresses concern that some EU air quality standards are not fully aligned with well-established health recommendations; encourages the Commission to update reference values for ultrafine particles, methane and black carbon in line with forthcoming WHO recommendations;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 c (new) 1 c. Welcomes the Zero Pollution Ambition from the Commission and stresses the need for a timeline and binding objectives to drive actual change;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Believes that in order to improve the air quality
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Believes that in order to improve the air quality in these hotspots, it is vital to move towards a more sustainable and less polluting transport system, especially in urban areas, while using all available means in the most effective way
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Believes that in order to improve the air quality in these hotspots, it is vital to move towards a more sustainable and less polluting transport system, especially in urban areas,
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Believes that in order to improve the air quality in these hotspots, it is vital to move towards a more sustainable and less polluting transport system, especially in urban areas,
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph -1 a (new) -1 a. Points to scientific evidence of the negative impact of road transport emissions for respiratory diseases and other major health problems; highlights recent judicial decisions establishing direct causality between long-term road traffic exposure and respiratory diseases eventually causing death, as well as on air pollution effects of worsening health conditions in the home country as a reason to halt deportation;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Believes that in order to improve the air quality in these hotspots, it is vital to move towards a
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Believes that in order to improve the air quality in
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2 a. Stresses that the most effective way to reduce air pollution from road transport is to move away from fossil fuel vehicles and accelerate e-mobility; calls for a full phase-out of fossil fuel vehicles in the EU by 2030;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2 a. Points out that current clean air legislations are based on outdated health science and need to be reviewed; calls on the Union to align its standards to the one of the World Health Organisation (WHO);
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Stresses, in this context, that the focus must not be on banning private transport and that the needs of all road users must be taken into account;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2 a. Underlines that petrol and particularly diesel cars have the greatest detrimental impact on air quality, especially in urban areas;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 b (new) 2 b. Calls for the adoption of an end date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, for instance within the upcoming revision of the Regulation setting emission performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles1a; stresses that this end date for internal combustion engines should take effect no later than 2030; _________________ 1aRegulation (EU) 2019/631 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 setting CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 443/2009 and (EU) No 510/2011
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 b (new) 2 b. Stresses the need to revise the CO2 Emission Performance Standards for cars and vans to significantly accelerate the uptake of electro-mobility; highlights that this review could be used to introduce a full phase-out of fossil fuel vehicles in 2030;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 c (new) 2 c. Calls on the Commission to use the upcoming post-Euro 6/VI emission standards for cars, vans, lorries and buses to significantly increase the air pollution standards for all vehicles and define a path to zero-pollution mobility;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 d (new) 2 d. Points out that the evolution of Euro standards and use of particulate filters remain insufficient to reduce urban population's exposure to air pollutants; highlights the need to reduce fossil based traffic in inner city areas by furthering zero and low emission zones, introducing vehicle charging schemes, and encouraging a shift to public and active forms of transport by investing in infrastructure;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph -1 b (new) -1 b. Recalls that according to the 2018 Air quality report by the EEA, more than 50% of the population were exposed to most of the main pollutants;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Encourages local and regional authorities to devise and implement evidence-based, strategic sustainable urban mobility plans, aiming at a coordinated planning of policies, incentives and subsidies that target the various transport sectors and modes, such as measures to encourage the roll-out of e-charging and other alternative fuels, investment in sustainable public transport, infrastructure for active, shared and zero emission transport modes and demand-related measures
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Encourages Member States to involve actively the local and regional authorities to devise and implement evidence-based, strategic sustainable urban mobility plans, aiming at a coordinated planning of policies, incentives and subsidies that target the various transport sectors and modes, such as measures to encourage the roll-out of e-charging and other alternative fuels, investment in sustainable and accessible public transport, infrastructure for active, shared and zero emission transport modes and demand- related measures, as well as raising public awareness measures and communication activities of the EU’s role in tackling air pollution;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Encourages local and regional authorities to devise and implement evidence-based, strategic sustainable urban mobility plans, aiming at a coordinated planning of policies, incentives and subsidies that target the various transport sectors and modes, such as measures to replace the vehicle fleet, encourage the roll-out of e-charging and other alternative fuels
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Encourages local and regional authorities to devise and implement
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Encourages local and regional authorities to devise and implement evidence-based, strategic sustainable urban mobility plans, aiming at a coordinated planning of policies, incentives and subsidies that target the various sustainable transport sectors and modes, such as measures to encourage the roll-out of e-charging and other
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Encourages local and regional authorities to devise and implement evidence-based, strategic sustainable urban mobility plans respecting the "do-no- harm"-principle, aiming at a coordinated planning of policies, incentives and subsidies that target the various transport sectors and modes, such as measures to encourage the roll-out of e-charging and other alternative fuels, investment in sustainable public transport, infrastructure for active, shared and zero emission transport modes and demand-related measures;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Points to the need to take account of structural constraints possibly affecting the introduction of alternative transport modes in outermost regions and islands; calls for an action plan to be envisaged by the Commission and the governments of the outermost regions with the aim of providing incentives and specific funding for transport in these regions;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3 a. Highlights the importance of sufficient expertise and resources available at local and regional levels for the drafting of air quality plans and elaborating the choice, implementation and evaluation of measures to improve air quality; underlines in this respect the need to raise awareness for available funding, technical resources and flexible pathways adjustable to local and regional realities;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3 a. Points out that the Commission’s recent Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy advocates for increasing the modal shares of collective transport, walking and cycling, as well as automated, connected and multimodal mobility, in order to significantly lower pollution and congestion from transport, especially in cities, and improve the health and well-being of citizens;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Points out in this connection that public transport services, especially in rural areas, are frequently unsatisfactory, irregular and expensive;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph -1 c (new) -1 c. Underlines that long-term exposure to high levels of air pollutants makes the population more vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19 and similar viruses, due to weakened respiratory and immune systems;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3 b. Calls specifically for due investment in an extensive cycling infrastructure, particularly in urban areas, in order to ensure the safety of all vulnerable road users and increase its attractiveness as an efficient and healthy commuting mode; stresses the importance of ensuring smooth inter-modality between rail and cycling in order to offer sustainable rural-urban commuting; encourages in this sense also the expansion of the EuroVélo network;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 c (new) 3 c. Points out that the Clean Vehicles Directive1a requirements are to be transposed by 2 August 2021 at the latest; considers that the public procurement requirements of zero-emission vehicle purchases needed only after 2025 should be further anticipated, with the goal of ensuring 100% zero-emission vehicle fleets by 2030 at the latest; _________________ 1aDirective (EU) 2019/1161 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 amending Directive 2009/33/EC on the promotion of clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 d (new) 3 d. Welcomes local initiatives such as Low Emission Zones, which should be enlarged to all areas with certain population density, and further developed into Zero Emission Zones;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 e (new) 3 e. Reminds nevertheless that car emissions are not limited to NOx and PM tailpipe emissions, besides CO2, but also PM from tyre and brake wear, as well as road wear;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 f (new) 3 f. Points out that PM2.5 is the pollutant with the highest mortality, mainly being at the origin of strokes, with particulate matter in general causing also cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer and other lung and respiratory diseases, while NO2 causes particularly liver and blood diseases, besides respiratory diseases;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 g (new) 3 g. Underlines that during the COVID-related lockdowns the air quality improved significantly in the most polluted cities, as a result of reduced road traffic, which also has a relevant impact in terms of noise pollution;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 h (new) 3 h. Recalls that the Commission committed to a Zero-Pollution Action Plan within its communication on the European Green Deal; considers that updating and ensuring the timely implementation of the current EU air quality legislation is of paramount importance in order to guarantee tackling air pollution successfully;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 i (new) 3 i. Calls on the Commission to adopt an EU-wide daily limit on particulate matter; stresses that this daily limit, as well as all the other limit values, should be in line with the World Health Organisation’s guidelines on air quality;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 j (new) Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Points out that, while transport- related emissions of most pollutants have fallen substantially in recent decades, persistent hotspots remain in the EU, where levels of air pollution are too high – especially in urban areas
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Reiterates the importance of a substantial modal shift from road towards less polluting forms of transportation; underlines, in this regard, the urgent need to improve railroad infrastructure, especially under the framework of the Trans-European Transport Network, and to further ease and encourage intermodality and multimodality, bearing in mind, however, that road haulage remains indispensable and irreplaceable, especially over small (last-mile) and medium distances; notes that genuine sustainable intermodality must accordingly be combined with measures to promote more efficient and hence more environmentally-friendly road haulage;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Reiterates the importance of a substantial modal shift from road towards less polluting forms of transportation
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Reiterates the importance of a substantial modal shift from road towards less polluting forms of transportation; underlines, in this regard, the urgent need to improve railroad infrastructure, especially under the framework of the Trans-European Transport Network, and to further ease and encourage intermodality; emphasises the need to improve working conditions for public transport workers, including investment in their reskilling, upskilling and training;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Reiterates the importance of a substantial modal shift from road to
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Reiterates the importance of a substantial modal shift from road towards less polluting forms of transportation, such as combined and rail transport; underlines, in this regard, the urgent need to improve and modernise railroad infrastructure, especially under the framework of the Trans-European Transport Network, and to further ease and encourage intermodality;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4 a. Recalls that the European Parliament has recently proposed 2022 as the European Year of Greener Cities, in order to create a culture of appreciation of green spaces and clean air as an important, yet often underestimated, aspect of quality of life for European citizens, particularly for those affecting asthma and other airway disease sufferers, among others, as well as encouraging urban development in this regard, notably favouring initiatives to reduce urban road traffic, and promote and invest in public transport; reminds that on average 60% of public space is occupied by private cars only, although those are 95% of the time idle and hence most of this unused space could be greened and serve other social purposes;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4 a. Emphasises the importance of protecting workers in the transportation sector who are exposed to high levels of air pollutions on a daily basis such as airport workers and construction workers who work in toxic fumes;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to address the enforcement of ecological standards for second-hand cars, as well as the implementation gap in the Union's type approval legislation;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4 b. Recalls that luxury passenger cruise ships remain a significant contributor to air pollution around European coasts and cities; calls on the Commission to use the revision of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive to expand Shore Side Electricity (SSE) requirements in ports and to use zero emission berth standards in order to drive the uptake of SSE technology;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Points out that, while transport- related emissions of most pollutants have fallen substantially in recent decades, persistent hotspots remain in the EU, where levels of air pollution are too high – especially in urban areas, where still more than one-in-six of its inhabitants are exposed to air pollution concentrations above EU air quality standards; is particularly concerned that in 2016 at least three quarters of the EU urban population were exposed to concentration of particulate matter exceeding the WHO guidelines;
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4 b. Regrets that in some cases air quality readings are unreliable or cannot be obtained due to lacking network of sensors; underlines that adequate, harmonised and standardised air pollution reporting and monitoring methods and procedures need to be put in place in all Member States to guarantee that the collected data are exact, unadulterated and comparable;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4 b. Points to the environmental impact of aviation, which goes beyond its high CO2 emissions, and the negative health effects that noise pollution from airports cause for European citizens; calls for all intra-EU scheduled collective travel under 1,000 km to be carbon-neutral by 2030;
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 c (new) 4 c. Points to the environmental impact of maritime transport, particularly sulphur dioxide emissions, and the impact this has on coastal communities, both in terms of ecosystems and public health; calls for a comprehensive electrification of short-distance and urban maritime transport, in addition to zero-emission - requirements and infrastructure at berth;
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 c (new) 4 c. Encourages the Commission to extend NOx Emission Control Area (NECA) and SOx Emission Control Area (SECA) standards to all EU seas and tighten the standard for sulphur to 10ppm to bring it in line with that currently applicable to road transport;
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 d (new) 4 d. Notes that light pollution, often stemming from transport infrastructure, has also adverse effects on human health and disrupts ecosystems; urges relevant authorities to better monitor the issue and take action to reduce its effects;
Amendment 65 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Points out that the proper implementation and enforcement of the Air Quality Directives1 have proved challenging; urges, therefore, that Directive 2008/50/EC and all other existing legislation relating to transport emissions be properly implemented and enforced
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Points out that the proper implementation and enforcement of the Air Quality Directives1 have proved challenging; urges, therefore, that Directive 2008/50/EC and all other existing legislation relating to transport emissions be properly implemented and enforced
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Points out that the proper implementation and enforcement of the Air Quality Directives1 have proved
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Points out that the proper implementation and enforcement of the Air Quality Directives1 have proved challenging; urges, therefore, that Directive 2008/50/EC and all other existing legislation relating to transport emissions be properly implemented and
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5 a. Welcomes the Fitness check of the Ambient Air Quality Directives conducted by the Commission last year; furthermore, calls on the Commission to explore the ways for a swift and more efficient cooperation with national, regional and local authorities to foster the compliance with air quality legislation, i.a. with the use of the EU funding, under the EU Urban Agenda, through the Clean Air Dialogues, and in line with the European Green Deal objectives; calls on the Commission to provide technical assistance and expertise to the national, regional and local authorities encountering difficulties in enforcing and implementing air quality legislation;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Points out that, while transport- related emissions of most pollutants have fallen substantially in recent decades, persistent hotspots remain in the EU, where levels of air pollution are too high –
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5 a. Recalls that whereas overall particulate emissions from road transport decline, the fraction emitted by vehicles from tyre, brake, clutch and road wear becomes increasingly significant; calls on the European Commission to examine, together with health and air quality experts specialised in the matter, in how far a regulation targeting these emissions could be necessary and proportionate in view of further reducing non-exhaust emissions and increasing their contribution to the overall reduction of particulate matter emissions from road transport;
Amendment 71 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Underlines the need for positive discrimination measures to address the constraints that the outermost, island and remote regions may face when applying a possible carbon tax, together with specific plans by the Commission for transport decarbonisation in the outermost regions, given their strong dependence on air and sea transport in particular;
Amendment 72 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5 a. Points out that according to the EEA Air quality report in 2019, premature deaths could be reduced yearly between 100.000 to 120.000, and namely 1 million Years of Life saved, only by establishing at EU level the WHO AQG limit for PM 2.5;
Amendment 73 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5 a. Encourages the Commission to use implementing acts in the current Ambient Air Quality Directives to improve monitoring and implementation and guide Member States in closing loopholes;
Amendment 74 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5 b. Recalls that in the 2005 impact assessment prior to the proposal of the current Ambient Air Quality directive, the Commission assessed the direct costs of complying with their proposal for the directive at between €5 and €8 billion, and the monetised health benefits at between €37 to €119 billion per annum in 2020, thereby concluding that the benefits of the air quality policy greatly exceeded the implementation costs;
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5 b. Underlines that civil society organisations, environmental activists and investigative journalists, due to their proximity and direct access to the data on the ground, play a crucial role in fostering and controlling the implementation of ambient air quality legislation, and therefore need to be fully involved in the consultation procedures;
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5 b. Recalls that 31 infringement procedures against 18 Member States are currently ongoing for flawed monitoring or exceedances of PM10, PM2.5, NO2 or SO2 concentration levels; emphasises the need to speed up legal action against Member states who fail to comply with air pollution laws, as these cases take 6 to 8 years today;
Amendment 77 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5 b. Calls for the further integration of satellite data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service into the assessment of the implementation of European and global air quality rules;
Amendment 78 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 c (new) 5 c. Recalls that according to the ECA’s Special Report 23/2018 on Air pollution, the large number of infringement procedures relating to air quality limits show evidences of a widespread implementation gap in air quality legislation across the Union; takes note of the fact that such an implementation gap is prolonged over time particularly due to the recurrent long delays within the different stages of infringement procedures, usually between 6 and 8 years; considers that the 2-year period prior to a notification by the Commission over exceedance of limit values is too long in regard to ensuring a timely enforcement;
Amendment 79 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 c (new) 5 c. Stresses that Member States should focus on innovation and investments for improved connectivity and scalable air quality monitoring through low-cost air pollution sensors, artificial intelligence methods, and systematic deployment of 5G and Gigabit infrastructure along urban and rural large-scale transport corridors in line with EU’s 2025 5G and Gigabit connectivity objectives;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Points out that, while transport- related emissions of most pollutants have fallen substantially in recent decades, persistent hotspots remain in the EU, where levels of air pollution are too high – especially in urban areas; recalls that air pollution is still the main environmental cause of disease with an estimated 450.000 persons dying prematurely each year as a result of exposure to air pollution ;
Amendment 80 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 c (new) 5 c. Encourages the Commission and the Member States to ensure that policies in the field of air quality pursue the zero pollution ambitions, in line with the Green Deal objectives; furthermore, highlights the importance of the recovery plans supporting competitiveness and innovation in the related sectors;
Amendment 81 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 d (new) 5 d. Notes with concern the European Court of Auditors’ remarks that Air Quality Plans aimed a remedial of limit value exceedance are often not effective, particularly due to lack of enough targeted measures to reduce the emissions at source;
Amendment 82 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 e (new) 5 e. Expects that the upcoming EURO 7 regulation for new type approval of vehicles will set ambitious targets, namely with more stringent emission limits based on Real Driving Emissions, as well as including standards for capturing emission of tyres and brakes;
Amendment 83 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 f (new) 5 f. Reiterates its 2019 call for mandatory retrofitting for the most polluting vehicles still on the road, and particularly for those with diesel engines given the large-scale exceedance of highly polluting NO2 emissions, as revealed with the Dieselgate;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Points out that, while transport- related emissions of most pollutants have fallen substantially in recent decades, persistent hotspots remain in the EU, where levels of air pollution are too high – especially in urban areas, highly congested and industrialized areas;
source: 663.275
2021/02/11
ENVI
231 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 6 a (new) - having regard to Commission Implementing Decision 2011/850/EU of 12 December 2011 laying down rules for Directives 2004/107/EC and 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the reciprocal exchange of information and reporting on ambient air quality,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 c (new) - having regard to the study entitled 'Abrupt but smaller than expected changes in surface air quality attributable to COVID-19 lockdowns', published on 13.01.2021 in Science Advances, Vol. 7, No 3, eabd6696, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd6696, https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7 /3/eabd6696,
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Acknowledges the fact that Member States have established an air quality monitoring network based on common criteria defined by the AAQ Directives, with more than 4 000 monitoring stations and 16 000 sampling points; points out that site location provisions involve multiple criteria
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Acknowledges the fact that Member States have established an air quality monitoring network based on common criteria defined by the AAQ Directives, with more than 4 000 monitoring stations and 16 000 sampling points; points out that site location provisions involve multiple criteria and offer a degree of flexibility which can make verification more difficult, and which often generate data that does not provide information on
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Acknowledges the fact that Member States have established an air quality monitoring network based on common criteria defined by the AAQ Directives, with more than 4 000 monitoring stations and 16 000 sampling points; points out that site location provisions involve multiple criteria and offer a degree of flexibility which can make
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Acknowledges the fact that Member States have established an air quality monitoring network based on common criteria defined by the AAQ Directives, with more than 4 000 monitoring stations and 16 000 sampling points; points out that site location
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Acknowledges the fact that Member States have established an air quality monitoring network based on common criteria defined by the AAQ Directives, with more than 4 000 monitoring stations and 16 000 sampling points; points out that site location provisions involve multiple criteria and offer a degree of flexibility which can make verification more difficult, and which often generate data that does not provide
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Acknowledges the fact that Member States have established an air quality monitoring network based on common criteria defined by the AAQ Directives, with more than 4 000 monitoring stations and 16 000 sampling points; points out that site location provisions involve multiple criteria and offer a degree of flexibility which can make verification more difficult, and which often generate data that does not provide information on where the highest concentrations of air pollutants occur; urges the Commission to review and establish new mandatory rules for locating monitoring stations and sampling points, such as setting a minimum number of measurement stations per type of emissions source (transport, industry, agriculture or residential), or the possibility for the Commission to require additional monitoring points to be located where necessary to ensure better measurement of air pollution;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Acknowledges the fact that Member States have established an air quality monitoring network based on common criteria defined by the AAQ Directives, with more than 4 000 monitoring stations and 16 000 sampling points; points out that site location provisions involve multiple criteria and offer a degree of flexibility which can make verification more difficult, and which often generate data that does not provide information on where the highest concentrations of air pollutants occur; urges the Commission to review and establish new mandatory rules for locating monitoring stations and sampling points; stresses that air quality modelling can complement and substitute sampling points therefore the AAQD should incorporate air quality modelling more clearly into the air quality assessment process;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Acknowledges the fact that Member States have established an air quality monitoring network based on common criteria defined by the AAQ Directives, with more than 4 000 monitoring stations and 16 000 sampling points; points out that site location
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Stresses that measures to achieve a more effective ambient air quality monitoring network should include an increase in the number of stations to obtain readings for industrial activity and transport, in order to monitor and assess of the impact of major emission sources on ambient air quality, giving priority to: (i) the installation of monitoring stations covering power, pulp and paper, glass and ceramic and cement plants, as well as waste incineration and/or co-incineration and other industrial plants that have prompted complaints from the public and are not within range of existing monitoring stations; (ii) at least one station monitoring the impact of transport flows and one urban- background monitoring station, these being distributed uniformly throughout the territory of the Member States and not concentrated in urban areas;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Considers that, while Member States have a duty to alert affected members of the public to the precautions necessary for as long as air quality has dropped to critical levels, efforts and investment should primarily be channelled into short- and long-term preventive and anticipatory anti-pollution measures;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 c (new) - having regard to the European Commission Roadmap for the Inception Impact Assessment for the revision of the AAQ Directives,
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5 a. Stresses that real-time data on air quality would improve monitoring immensely; points out that the Commission should always consider the most recent technical measuring systems, norms and standards;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6.
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that the AAQ Directives
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that the AAQ Directives
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that even though the AAQ Directives
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that the AAQ Directives do not focus on reducing emissions in places where people suffer most from air pollution, or where concentrations are highest, and that concrete action in this area is needed; notes that lower socio- economic groups are more exposed to air pollution because they are more likely to live close to sources of heavy pollution, both outdoor, such as traffic and industrial areas, and indoor, such as the combustion of low-quality solid fuels for domestic heating; underlines in this regard the need to better reflect human exposure to air pollution in EU law, and urges the Commission to include new indicators in air quality indices, such as population density around monitoring stations and sampling points, as well as to share existing best practices in this regard, such as the establishment of Priority Areas for Quality Air Improvement;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that the AAQ Directives do not focus on reducing emissions in places where people suffer most from air pollution, or where concentrations are highest, and that concrete action in this area is needed; notes that lower socio- economic groups are more exposed to air pollution because they are more likely to live close to sources of heavy pollution, both outdoor, such as traffic and industrial areas, and indoor, such as the combustion of low-quality solid fuels for domestic heating; underlines in this regard the need to better reflect human exposure to air pollution in EU law, and urges the Commission to include new indicators in air quality indices, such as population density around monitoring stations and sampling points; stresses, however, that these new indicators, and potential exposure reduction targets, should be additional to, and not substitute, limit values, which have proven to be the most effective and enforceable standards so far, and that the same air quality standards must apply across Europe;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Believes Member States should seek to ensure that the example set by those cities with good practices in this area is followed by other cities in general through the formulation and implementation of contingency/emergency plans, to be activated as soon as possible where high concentrations of pollutant gases and particles that jeopardise the public health are predicted or are actually occurring;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Considers that a more effective air quality monitoring network must also be able to measure the impact of major pollution sources on air quality standards in nearby villages and protected ecosystems and provide more information regarding the range of pollutants being assessed;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 d (new) - having regard to the European health and safety at work policy, in particular to the European Commission Communication “Safer and Healthier Work for All” of 10 January 2017, and to Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work,
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6 a. Calls for the Commission to consider regulating indoor air quality independently or as a part of sustainable buildings legislation, covering indoor air quality in confined spaces at least in public and commercial real estate;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Stresses the need to achieve healthier cities and substantial reductions in air pollution levels, for example through the creation of green areas and pedestrian and car-free zones in urban centres and by encouraging the use of bicycles and other eco-friendly devices through the extension of safe cycle paths in and around city centres;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Considers it of the utmost importance, when installing air quality observation networks, to recommend that industrial impact monitoring stations carry out an analytical assessment of pollutants characteristically emitted by processes where such a direct relationship can be established;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 c (new) Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 b (new) 6 b. (new) Heading: Lessons learnt from the COVID-19 crisis;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Points out that
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Notes that this has helped to identify and confirm car use as a principal reason for increased emissions of air pollutants, since it was the traffic monitoring stations that registered the largest increases in emissions following the easing of lockdown restrictions; points out that these findings confirm existing knowledge of the impact of private vehicles on air quality in large urban centres, and that pollutant emissions from this source can only be reduced by promoting the more widespread use of the less pollutant public transport alternatives;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that confinement measures to control the spread of
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that confinement measures to control the spread of the pandemic led to a
Amendment 129 #
8. Notes that confinement measures to control the spread of the pandemic led to a drastic decrease in emissions and air pollution, thus clearly showing the impact of human activities on the environment; notes with regret that continuous exposure to air pollution may worsen the impact of respiratory
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 d (new) - having regard to Eurostat's statistics on life expectancy in the Member States, published annually since 1992: https://bit.ly/3pV2iRY,
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that confinement measures to control the spread of pandemic led to a
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that confinement measures to control the spread of pandemic led to a drastic
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that confinement measures to control the spread of pandemic led to a drastic decrease in emissions and air pollution, primarily attributable to lower road, air and international transport volumes and reductions in certain economic and industrial activities, thus clearly showing the impact of human activities on the environment; notes with regret that continuous exposure to air pollution may worsen the impact of respiratory viruses such as COVID-19; underlines that fighting air pollution must be at the core of the EU recovery plan, and that mandatory and effectively enforced air quality requirements are key to guaranteeing citizens’ health and improving their resilience against future health threats;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes that confinement measures to control the spread of pandemic led to a drastic decrease in emissions and air pollution (except of household heating) , thus clearly showing the impact of human activities on the environment; notes with regret that continuous exposure to air pollution may worsen the impact of respiratory viruses such as COVID-19; underlines that fighting air pollution must be at the core of the EU recovery plan, and that mandatory and effectively enforced air quality requirements are key to guaranteeing citizens’ health and improving their resilience against future health threats;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Acknowledges that the reduction in CO2 emissions resulting from COVID- 19 containment measures was smaller than predicted, being estimated at around -7% (-3% to -13% depending on the Member State1a); notes that the substantial and sustained reduction in road traffic and economic activity is not being matched by a proportionate reduction in atmospheric pollution, especially that caused by fine dust particles; stresses that the putative direct link between air pollution, in particular fine dust particles, and the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus now appears unlikely1b; concludes, therefore, that private mobility choices have less impact on air pollution than previously affirmed and predicted; urges the Commission accordingly to proceed without delay to an in-depth review of Directive 2008/50/EC, to finally take into account the geographical characteristics and climatic conditions of each territory and focus on the main anthropogenic sources of air pollution; _________________ 1aLe Quéré, C., Jackson, R.B., Jones, M.W. et al. Temporary reduction in daily global CO2 emissions during the COVID- 19 forced confinement. Nat. Clim. Chang. 10, 647–653 (2020) 1b'Atmospheric particulate matter does not favour the spread of COVID-19 into the air' - Press release by National Research Council (https://www.cnr.it/it/comunicato- stampa/9921/il-particolato-atmosferico- non-favorisce-la-diffusione-in-aria-del- covid-19)
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8 a. Notes that the COVID-19 crisis has showed that the reduction of motorized traffic and changes in mobility patterns are an effective tool to reduce air pollution in cities; believes, therefore, that good practices such as proximity shopping, voluntary teleworking, electronic administration or staggering working hours should be promoted; emphasises the need to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and to prioritise a modal shift, such as promoting walking, cycling, carpooling, new taxi schemes and public transport, to stop unsustainable mobility patterns;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Notes that Commission support for free public transport services such as those already provided in a number of European cities would be a major step towards meeting the targets set out in the air quality directives, including the implementation of specific containment and prevention measures helping to to bring pollution down to agreed levels;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 b (new) 8 b. Underlines that it is crucial to incentivise the market for electric vehicles and to issue Member States with guiding recommendations to encourage them to implement fiscal incentives for zero- and low-emission vehicles; stresses that the availability and accessibility of charging infrastructure, including in private and public buildings in accordance with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), and the competitiveness of electric vehicles are essential for increasing consumer acceptance; highlights the importance of ensuring that electricity generated for electric vehicles comes from sustainable energy sources;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 c (new) 8 c. Notes that cycling and walking have the lowest carbon footprint of all forms of transportation, and also have direct health benefits; highlights that broad, well-maintained and unobstructed pavements and cycle lanes, with a focus on central commuting streets and integrated into existing road networks while being securely separated from car lanes, can incentivise both forms of active travel; urges national, regional and local authorities to adopt ambitious policies and measures accordingly;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 e (new) 8 e. (new) Heading: Promoting successful local policies on air quality
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 e (new) - having regard to the Commission Communication of 14 October 2020 “an EU strategy to reduce methane emissions”,
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 f (new) 8 f. Asks to the Commission to establish guidelines to ensure a coherent approach in the design and implementation of local policies addressing the same sources of air pollution that have proven to be successful; points out to the fact that clear decreasing trends in air pollution can be observed mainly when policies are implemented in combination, and therefore a coherent approach across the EU in the design and implementation of local policies is fundamental to their success;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 g (new) Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 h (new) 8 h. Highlights the effectiveness of Low Emissions Zones to improve air quality when road traffic is the major source of pollution;notes that the design of a Low Emissions Zone is the main factor affecting its effectiveness and, based on examples of successfully designed and implemented Low Emissions Zones, makes the following recommendations: - To establish ambitious Low Emissions Zones in all EU cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants; - To focus on city-wide measures where possible, which are likely to be more effective than measures focused on specific streets or areas to improve air quality; - To implement stringent policies that allow access only to the cleanest vehicle; - To establish a flexible approach that allows for revisions to the scope or approach of the Low Emission Zone over time, taking into account changes in vehicle emission performance, technology and need for stricter enforcement; - To ensure effective implementation of a Low Emission Zone via the use of automatic vehicle controls (instead of more random, ad hoc, manual controls); - To provide for sufficient awareness raising and engagement with stakeholders in the design and implementation of air quality policies directly affecting them as traffic restrictions are more likely to be accepted if the population is informed of the policy, its health benefits, alternatives and supporting measures;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 i (new) 8 i. Totally rejects reversion policies and calls on the Commission to establish new legal provisions in the Ambient Air Quality Directives to prevent that local policies and measures that have proven to be effective in improving air quality can be reverted by criteria of political opportunism; alerts that local measures such as the establishment of low emissions zones, also involve the adaptations and acceptance of residents affected by restrictions, and that reverting such measures not only has adverse effects towards air quality, but also towards public opinion, reducing the awareness and the gravity of air pollution;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 j (new) 8 j. Emphasises the need of a profound urban restructuring to guarantee clean air so it has an impact on citizens’ health and the environment; believes that “15 minute cities”, within which homes, workplaces, public services and shops are accessible within 15 minutes by foot or public transport, should form the basis of the urban long- term planning;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 k (new) 8 k. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure the necessary investments to accelerate the shift to vehicles with low emissions, including Low Emissions Zones, the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, cleaner public transport and public procurement;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 m (new) 8 m. (new) Heading: EU policies impact on air quality
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Welcomes the announcement of the Commission’s Zero Pollution Action Plan; emphasises that air pollution is a burden that requires a holistic approach;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 f (new) - having regard to the Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions,
Amendment 150 #
9. Welcomes the announcement of the Commission’s Zero Pollution Action Plan; emphasises that air pollution is a
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Welcomes the announcement of the Commission’s Zero Pollution Action Plan; emphasises that air pollution is a burden that requires a holistic approach; alerts that any new measures will be worthless if air quality is not properly prioritised and mainstreamed in all EU policies, including EU emission source legislation, such as on climate, energy, transport, industry, agriculture and waste, while ensuring better synergies between all policy areas; calls on the Commission and the Member States to cooperate more closely in all areas and at all levels
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Welcomes the announcement of the Commission’s Zero Pollution Action Plan; recalls the close link between nature conservation and air quality since the regulation of air quality is one of nature’s contribution to people; emphasises that air pollution is a burden that requires a holistic approach; alerts that any new measures will be worthless if air quality is not properly prioritised and mainstreamed in all EU policies, including EU emission source legislation, such as on climate, energy, transport, industry, agriculture and waste, while ensuring better synergies between all policy areas; calls on the Commission and the Member States to cooperate more closely in all areas and at all levels in order to help local authorities achieve cleaner air;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Welcomes the announcement of the Commission’s Zero Pollution Action Plan; emphasises that air pollution is a burden that requires a holistic approach as negatively impacts also on land and water life by means of eutrophication and acidification; alerts that
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Welcomes the announcement of the Commission’s Zero Pollution Action Plan; emphasises that air pollution is a burden that requires a holistic approach; alerts that any new measures will be worthless if air quality is not properly prioritised and mainstreamed in all EU policies, including EU emission source legislation, such as on climate, energy, transport, industry, agriculture and waste, while ensuring that there are no contradictions and better synergies between all policy areas; calls on the Commission and the Member States to cooperate more closely in all areas and at all levels in order to help local authorities achieve cleaner air; points to the growing link between air pollution and climate change, as shown by growing ozone concentrations triggered by temperatures rise and more recurrent heat waves; highlights the need to more seriously regulate emissions of methane and black carbon, which contribute to both air pollution and global warming; welcomes the recently published “EU strategy to reduce methane emissions”, however encourages the Commission to step up its ambition particularly in terms of action to minimise emissions, especially from agriculture and waste;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Welcomes the announcement of the Commission’s Zero Pollution Action Plan; emphasises that air pollution is a burden that requires a holistic approach; alerts that any new measures will be worthless if air quality is not properly prioritised and mainstreamed in all EU policies, including EU emission source legislation, such as on climate, energy, transport, industry, agriculture and waste management, while ensuring better synergies between all policy areas; calls on the Commission and the Member States to cooperate more closely in all areas and at all levels in order to help local authorities achieve cleaner air;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9 a. Notes with concern that while emissions of most air pollutants remain on a downward trend across the European Union, emissions of ammonia (NH3) from the agricultural sector continue to rise, posing a challenge for EU Member States in meeting EU air pollution limits; highlights that in urban areas ammonia emissions account for around 50% of the health impacts of air pollution, as ammonia is a key precursor to particulate matter; calls on the Commission and the Member States to use the reform of the EU common agricultural policy (CAP) and national Strategic Plans as an opportunity to fight air pollution from the agricultural sector;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9 a. Considers that a holistic approach to combating air pollution is compatible with a case-by-case analysis of the specific characteristics of each pollutant, for example for ozone, a colourless and odorous gas, which is not a primary pollutant and the prevention of which requires measures to reduce precursors (NOx and VOCs) on a long-term basis;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 b (new) 9 b. Regrets that methane emissions are not regulated under EU air pollution legislation and not specifically regulated under EU climate policy; calls for an ambitious legislative framework to tackle the methane emissions, including by setting binding reduction targets;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 c (new) 9 c. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop stringent EU car emissions standards for air pollutants (future Euro 7 standards for light-duty vehicles and Euro VII standards for heavy-duty vehicles), aligning them with WHO guidelines on air pollution in a technology-neutral manner which doesn’t discriminate between fuels; underlines that the new testing procedures for vehicles should be reviewed to broaden the scope of regulated pollutants measured, to increase their accuracy and effectiveness and to eliminate loopholes, thereby ensuring emission standards are indeed met under real driving conditions;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 g (new) - having regard to the European Commission Communication of 14 October 2020 on the “Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability” (2020/2531(RSP)) as well as the European Parliament resolution of 10 July on the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability,
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 d (new) 9 d. Recalls that the energy production and distribution sector is responsible for more than half of sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions and one fifth of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in the 33 member countries of the European Environment Agency;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 e (new) 9 e. Notes that power generation using solid fuels will be the main source of mercury emissions to air in Europe for the foreseeable future; in this regard welcomes the commitments made by at least ten EU Member States to phase out coal; calls on the other Member States to phase out coal as an energy source by 2030 at the latest;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 f (new) 9 f. Points out that the European Green Deal aims to reduce the environmental impacts of the EU and that in view of industry’s important contribution to overall pressures on the environment, it must make an appropriate contribution to meeting this overall goal; welcomes in this regard the announced revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) to better address pollution from large industrial installations and to make them fully consistent with EU environment, climate, energy and circular economy policies; considers in this regard that it would be advantageous to include in the IED other sectors, limit the derogations to a minimum, adopt a consistent outcome-oriented approach of promoting the industrial activity with the least negative environmental impact and integrate provisions stimulating progress within the permitting phase or BREF determination;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Urges the Commission and the Member States to s
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10.
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Urges the Commission and the Member States to
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Urges the Commission and the Member States to strengthen all emissions legislation; underlines that reducing emissions at source is the only effective way to guarantee clean air; alerts that most Member States will not comply with their 2020 and 2030 emissions reduction commitments established under the NEC directive; stresses the need for stringent measures to reduce transport emissions, particularly road and maritime transport, aviation, industrial installations, agriculture and energy production and the need to incorporate the EU air quality and emission standards into the trade policy to prevent transfer of emissions outside EU which would further exacerbate the effect of transboundary air pollution on the EU air quality while reducing the competitiveness of the EU companies;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Urges the Commission and the Member States to strengthen all emissions legislation and to use their legal powers to ensure compliance; underlines that reducing emissions at source is the only effective way to guarantee clean air; alerts that most Member States will not comply with their 2020 and 2030 emissions reduction commitments established under the NEC directive; stresses the need for stringent measures to reduce transport emissions, particularly road and maritime transport, aviation, industrial installations, agriculture and energy production;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Urges the Commission and the Member States to strengthen all emissions legislation; underlines that reducing emissions at source is the only effective way to guarantee clean air; alerts that most Member States will not comply with their 2020 and 2030 emissions reduction commitments established under the NEC directive; stresses the need for stringent measures to reduce transport emissions, particularly road and maritime transport, aviation, industrial installations, including intensive livestock sector, agriculture and energy production;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10 a. Stresses the need for the EU to adopt appropriate and effective measures to regulate maritime transport; draws attention to the fact that port cities must deal with shipping if they are to improve their air quality, as ship emissions are typically significantly higher than those of road vehicles; remarks with concern that ships’ detrimental impact on air quality continues to increase as the sector grows; notes that port cities also face pollution from shipping, cranes, cruises and various transportation vehicles; calls on the Commission to urgently fulfil its commitment to regulate access for the most polluting ships to ports and oblige docked ships to use the available recharging and refuelling infrastructure, such as shore-side electricity, to decrease air polluting emissions, thereby protecting coastal areas and their populations; calls on the Commission and Member States to implement a ‘zero emission at berth standard’ in all European ports;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 h (new) - having regard to the WHO Resolution of 26 May 2016 “Health and the environment: addressing the health impact of air pollution”,
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10 a. Stresses that innovation and research in low-emission and emission- reducing technologies will help to reduce emissions in all sectors; urges the Commission to honour the principle of technology neutrality; highlights the positive impact of Euro5/6 on the improvement of NOx emissions; notes that fleet renewal will bring huge improvements to air quality; points out that even full electrification of the car fleet does not clear the air from particle matters (e.g. tyres and brakes abrasion); calls on the Commission to duly assess possible trade-offs between CO2 emissions and air quality before proposing new and additional regulations;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10 a. Expresses concern over the practice of constructing new industrial installations with a capacity just below the Industrial Emissions Directive thresholds to purposefully leave them outside the scope of the Directive; Further highlights that certain industrial livestock installations were intentionally left out of the scope of the IED to prevent red tape1a; Disagrees with the Commission and asks for an inclusion of a lower, meaningful minimum threshold for intensive rearing of poultry, pigs and additionally also cattle, as these are an important source of air, soil and water pollution; _________________ 1aas in the study by the EPRS, 2021: "EU policy on air quality: Implementation of selected EU legislation", page 33-34; Some of these intensive livestock activities (such as cattle and poultry) emit pollutants such as ammonia (a precursor to PM2.5) and thus have a negative impact on air quality. The Commission also explains that these activities were not included in the scope of the directive because of a "previous impact assessment", which found that the full IED permitting process was not appropriate for some of these activities (e.g. cattle) because of the red tape it would involve.
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10 a. Urges the Commission and the Member States to strengthen all emissions regulation, underlines that reducing emissions at source is the only effective way to guarantee clean air; stresses the need for stringent measures for transport emissions, particularly road and maritime transport and aviation, industrial installations, agriculture and energy production; highlights that these measures must draw a clear pathway towards zero emissions and zero pollution from all these sectors;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10 a. Insists on the conclusion of the Second Clean Air Outlook report of the Commission[1] that highlights the likely reduction of the number of premature deaths due to air pollution by around 55% in 2030 compared to 2005 if Member States implemented all measures set up under the existing EU legislation regulating sources of air pollution; [1]Brussels, 8.1.2021- COM(2021) 3 final;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10 a. Stresses that emission control areas (ECAs) are essential tools to limit air pollution from shipping and contributes to tackling climate change, reducing the adverse effects on human health and marine biodiversity, calls therefore for the extension of ECAs to all EU seas;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Notes that evaluations of existing measures must take into account the long implementation deadlines of legislation such as the IED and MCP directives; recommends that the Commission mobilise additional financial support from existing funds where appropriate;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10 a. Stresses the need for policies from all levels that enable sustainable transport modes such as walking, cycling, public transport and shared mobility, while ensuring co-existence with motorised transport;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 b (new) Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 b (new) 10 b. Regrets the trend of growing ammonia emissions; notes that the Union is far off track from reaching the goals on these emissions; urges the Commission and Member States to minimise ammonia emissions with adjustments in the CAP and particularly in Member States' strategic plans; asks the Commission to also look into options to mitigate these emissions with the Industrial Emissions Directive;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 b (new) 10 b. Underlines that maritime transport participates to air pollution especially in port cities, calls therefore on the Commission and Member States to support and invest in the development of zero-emission ports such as recharging infrastructures, as it would ensure immediate health benefits to all citizens living in port and coastal areas;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas clean air is
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 c (new) 10 c. Recalls that road transport, particularly diesel vehicles, is the main source of NOx in Europe; emphasises that, besides being among the air pollutants with the highest negative impacts on the human respiratory system, NOx is a major contributor to ecosystem damages, particularly through eutrophication and acidification, causing loss of biodiversity; deeply regrets that there are still 50 million Euro 5 and Euro 6 vehicles on European roads which can emit up to 20 times above the legal limits1a, contributing to NOx exceedances in more than 130 cities in the EU; calls for the swift withdrawal and, where possible, retrofit of non-compliant diesel cars, and stresses that these operations should be financed by non-compliant car manufacturers; stresses that the export of diesel vehicles without retrofitting the non-functioning emissions control system must be prevented; calls for the conclusion of an ambitious deal on Real Driving Emissions test measures; stresses that upcoming new EU emission standards should define a roadmap to zero-pollution and zero-emission road transport, regulating all pollutants; calls for the adoption of an end date for the sale of new petrol and diesel cars no later than 2030; calls for more ambitious EU zero-emission public procurement requirements, with the goal of ensuring 100% zero-emission vehicle fleets by 2030 at the latest; calls on local authorities to devise sustainable urban plans encouraging walking and cycling, the use of public transport, of shared, sustainable mobility solutions and of zero-emission vehicles, and discouraging car commuting; welcomes local initiatives such as Low Emission Zones, which should be enlarged to all areas with certain population density, and further developed into Zero Emission Zones; recalls that surface abrasion of catalytic converters results in the release of platinum, rhodium and palladium; _________________ 1aDirty diesels grow to 51 million across EU, as carmakers still put profit before clean air, Transport & Environment, 2019
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 c (new) 10 c. Stresses that combined transport of goods contributes to the reduction of transport emissions by promoting a shift from road freight transport to lower- emission transport modes, including zero- emission rivers corridors;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 c (new) 10 c. Asks the Commission to evaluate all relevant sources of particulate matter and propose legislation where legal gaps exist, while also looking into co-benefits for other pollution dimensions, for example noise;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 d (new) 10 d. recalls that tyre wear generates more than 500,000 tonnes of microplastics in the EU per year and that more than 25,000 tonnes of these microplastics are released as PM10 into our air1a; recalls that tyres consist not only of rubber but also of a blend of different materials and chemicals, which can also include endocrine disruptors, carcinogens and mutagens, which, due to abrasion, ultimately end up in our nature and water cycles and can cause health threats; urges the Commission to adopt a delegated act amending Regulation (EU) 2020/740 as soon as possible, in order to include parameters or information requirements for tyre abrasion and mileage; urges the Commission to set binding abrasion standards for tyres and ban the most polluting tyres, as soon as reliable, accurate and reproducible methods to test and measure tyre abrasion and mileage are available for use by European or international standardisation organisations; _________________ 1aInvestigating options for reducing releases in the aquatic environment of microplastics emitted by (but not intentionally added in) products, ICF & Eunomia, 2018
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 d (new) 10 d. Asks the Commission to look into indoor air pollution consequences and possible legislative remedies for all relevant sources of indoor air pollution;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 e (new) 10 e. highlights that air and waterborne transport are also important sources of air and noise pollution, adversely impacting citizens and the environment, particularly close to airports, ports and coastal areas; emphasises that air pollution from maritime transport is responsible for over 50 000 deaths annually in the EU and must therefore be further reduced1a; points out that a scientific study commissioned by the Commission concluded that without further action, maritime NOx emissions will likely match land-based NOx emissions within a decade1b, while another study has concluded that luxury cruise ships alone, a small segment of maritime transport, already emit more disease-causing sulphur oxide emissions than all of Europe's passenger cars in a year1c; calls for the strengthening of European climate and environmental legislation covering the maritime sector; demands to declare the Mediterranean Sea a nitrogen- and sulphur-emissions control area (NECA/SECA); calls on the Member States to strictly control NECA and SECA zones in their territorial waters; points out that land- and sea-bound emission measurements should be accompanied by satellite detection; calls on the Commission to further issue reduction requirements to seaborne air and climate pollutants, and requirements aiming for zero-emission ports; requests that any European measures aimed at reducing ship air pollution should also reduce GHG emissions, especially CO2 and methane; _________________ 1aBrandt, J., Silver, J. D., and Frohn, L. M., ‘Assessment of Health-Cost Externalities of Air Pollution at the National Level using the EVA Model System. CEEH Scientific Report No 3’, 2011 1bThe potential for cost-effective air emission reductions from international shipping through designation of further Emission Control Areas in EU waters with focus on the Mediterranean Sea, IIASA, 2018 1cOne corporation to pollute them all, Transport & Environment, 2018
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 f (new) Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Notes that Air Quality Plans (AQPs), a key requirement of the AAQ Directives in cases when Member States do not comply with air quality standards, are often ineffective in terms of delivering their expected results; calls on the Commission to
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Notes that Air Quality Plans
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas clean air is essential to human health and quality of life, and to the environment, and has been identified as a global health priority in the SDGs;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Notes that Air Quality Plans (AQPs), a key requirement of the AAQ Directives in cases when Member States do not comply with air quality standards,
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Notes that Air Quality Plans (AQPs), a key requirement of the AAQ Directives in cases when Member States do not comply with air quality standards, are often ineffective in terms of delivering their expected results; calls on the Commission to
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Notes that Air Quality Plans (AQPs), a key requirement of the AAQ Directives in cases when Member States do not comply with air quality standards, are often ineffective in terms of delivering their expected results; calls on the Commission to consult closely with the Member States to establish a set of minimum requirements and share best practices for both the drafting and implementation of AQPs;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Notes that Air Quality Plans
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Notes that Air Quality Plans (AQPs), a key requirement of the AAQ Directives in cases when Member States do not comply with air quality standards, are often ineffective in terms of delivering their expected results; calls on the Commission to establish a set of minimum requirements and share best practices for both the drafting and implementation of AQPs, giving preference to natural methods of improving air quality such as maintaining and introducing greenery in cities and elsewhere;
Amendment 195 #
11. Notes that Air Quality Plans (AQPs), a key requirement of the AAQ Directives in cases when Member States do not comply with air quality standards, are often ineffective in terms of delivering their expected results; calls on the Commission to establish a set of minimum requirements and share best practices for both the drafting and implementation of AQPs and to impose penalties on polluters who fail to comply with European requirements;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12.
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12.
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12.
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 9 Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) A a. whereas air pollution is transboundary in nature, but in many cases the harmful effects of poor air quality become a local problem;
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Regrets the fact that the AAQ Directive neither requires Member States to report on the implementation of AQPs to the Commission nor to update them when new measures are adopted or when the progress is insufficient; calls on the Commission, in the framework of the upcoming revision of the AAQ Directives, to attribute itself the power to evaluate the AQPs and to establish a yearly reporting obligation for the implementation of the AQPs;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Regrets the fact that the AAQ Directive neither requires Member States to report on the implementation of AQPs to the Commission nor to update them when new measures are adopted or when the progress is insufficient; calls on the Commission to establish a yearly reporting obligation for the implementation of AQPs, to ensure that Member States’ measures are quick and effective in improving air quality;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 – point a (new) (a) Calls Member States to harmonise maximum values for air pollutants throughout the EU taking into account that due to the wide differences between national standards, citizens of the countries with too liberal ones are suffering from harmful health effects. Given the economic differences between EU countries and the need to adapt to change, an appropriate transitional period would be recommended;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Notes that Member States must have the possibility to implement existing AQPs; notes that changes to plans, legal frameworks and monitoring obligations also create significant costs, and that new financial instruments may be necessary to cover those costs;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 b (new) 12 b. (new) Heading: Enforcement of the Ambient Air Quality Directives
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Alerts that, a
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Alerts that as of October 2019, 32 infringement procedures against 20 Member States remained pending; considers that persistent exceedances of air quality standards by Member States indicate not only their lack of commitment to adopting more effective measures,
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13.
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Alerts that as of October 2019, 32 infringement procedures against 20 Member States remained pending;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Alerts that as of
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas air pollut
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Alerts that as of October 2019, 32 infringement procedures against 20 Member States remained pending; considers that persistent and systemic1a exceedances of air quality standards by Member States indicate their lack of commitment to adopting more effective measures, and the ineffectiveness of the current enforcement procedure; urges the Commission to review the current enforcement procedure for the AAQ Directives; _________________ 1ae.g. the referrals to the Court of Justice in the December 2020 infringement package highlight systemic and continuous exceedance going on for years: in this particular case in one member state between 2005-2019/(with the exception of year 2013) and 2015- 2019 in the case of another
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 b (new) 13 b. (new) Heading: Improving public information, awareness and involvement
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Considers that public information and awareness have a critical role in addressing air pollution;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Considers that public information
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Considers that public information and awareness have a critical role in facilitating direct individual involvement in measures to to improve air quality and in addressing air pollution; draws attention to the fact that Member States, regions and cities define air quality indices differently, and urges the Commission and Member States to establish a standardised air quality classification system applicable across the EU;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Considers that public information and awareness have a critical role in addressing air pollution; draws attention to the fact that Member States, regions and cities define air quality indices differently,
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses that
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses that
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses that there are positive trends in the practical implementation of Member States’ obligations under the AAQ Directives in terms of informing the public about the state of air quality; stresses that in some cases information on the possible health effects of air pollution provided by Member States
Amendment 219 #
15. Stresses that information on the possible health effects of air pollution provided by Member State
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe2, affecting all regions, socioeconomic and age groups unevenly
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses that information on the possible health effects of air pollution provided by Member States is scarce, unclear and not easily accessible for the public; calls on the Commission and Member States to launch public information campaigns on topics such as different types of air pollutants and their impact on human health or current local levels of air pollution
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses that information on the possible health effects of air pollution provided by Member States is scarce, unclear and not easily accessible for the public; calls on the Commission and Member States to launch public information campaigns on topics such as different types of air pollutants and their impact on human health or current local levels of air pollution, and to publish rankings of the best and least progress made by air quality zones; believes that awareness campaigns of the devastating effects of air pollution next to relevant pollution sources such as gas stations, airports or seaports, and/or the installation of air quality displays could also improve public awareness and information and prompt a change in behaviours and patterns that can contribute to air quality;
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Stresses that information on the possible health effects of air pollution provided by Member States is scarce, unclear and not easily accessible for the public; calls on the Commission and Member States to launch updated public information campaigns on topics such as different types of air pollutants and their impact on human health or current local
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15 a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to implement and promote tools to encourage public participation in the implementation of the AAQ Directives, such as the mandatory development by Member States of an online tool or/and app that informs citizens about air quality and its impact on human health and also allows them to request air monitoring stations or sampling points, report on air quality violations or provide feedback to the Commission on issues related to Member States actions on air quality;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Urges the Commission to introduce an annual award for cities or regions that have taken the most effective measures to reduce air pollution, producing visible and tangible results, in order to encourage a more more active and efficient approach by local and national authorities and to popularise these measures at European level;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 b (new) 15b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to continue to support the forums and encourage consultations with other countries in a bid to identify effective solutions and facilitate the implementation of European, national and local policies seeking to achieve acceptable air quality standards;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 Amendment 227 #
16. Urges the Commission continuously to update the AAQ Directives
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16.
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16.
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe2 , affecting all regions, socioeconomic and age groups unevenly, causing nearly 400 000 premature deaths per year, and is linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, strokes and cancer3
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Urges the Commission to update the AAQ Directives to include explicit provisions that guarantee the right of citizens to justice in line with the Aarhus Convention and calls on the Council to facilitate its implementation which is of particular relevance where the Council is acting in its legislative capacity;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 b (new) 16 b. (new) Heading: Other recommendations
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe2 , affecting all regions, socioeconomic and age groups unevenly, causing nearly 400 000 premature deaths per year, and is linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, strokes and cancer3 ; whereas air pollution has also adverse impacts on fertility, pregnancy, newborns and children, and there is emerging evidence of links between air pollution and diabetes, obesity, systemic inflammation, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia; whereas 98 % of the EU’s urban population is exposed to ozone levels that exceed WHO guidelines; whereas 77 % of the EU-28 population is exposed to PM2.5 levels above WHO guidelines3a; _________________ 2‘Ambient Air Pollution: A global assessment of exposure and burden of disease’, World Health Organization, 2016. 3‘Air quality in Europe - 2020’, Report No. 09/20, European Environment Agency, 2020. 3aAir quality in Europe - 2020, Report 9/20, European Environment Agency, 2020.
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe2 , affecting all regions, socioeconomic and age groups unevenly, causing nearly 400 000 premature deaths per year, and is linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, strokes and cancer3 ; whereas, overall, premature deaths from air pollution have dropped by more than 50 percent since 1990; 4a _________________ 2‘Ambient Air Pollution: A global assessment of exposure and burden of disease’, World Health Organization, 2016. 3‘Air quality in Europe - 2020’, Report No. 09/20, European Environment Agency, 2020. 4a https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/air/hea lth-impacts-of-air-pollution
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas it is important and advisable to review and carefully assess the implementation of the two Ambient Air Quality (AAQ) directives, bearing in mind that the effectiveness of any new measures adopted could be seriously undermined by failure to evaluate the provisions of Directive (EU) 2016/2284 (establishing national emission reduction commitments, especially with regard to SO2, NOx, VOCs, NH3 and PM2.5 ), as well as the various EU legislative provisions regulating air pollution from specific sources such as the industry and transport sectors, in other words by failure to ensure that air quality is properly prioritised and integrated into all EU legislation, including that relating to energy, transport, trade, agriculture and other emission sources;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) B a. whereas the most recent EEA estimates of the health impacts attributable to exposure to air pollution indicate that in 2018 particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) concentrations were responsible for about 379 000 premature deaths originating from long-term exposure in the EU-28; whereas the estimated impacts in the EU of exposure to NO2 and O3 concentrations in 2018 were around 54 000 and 19 400 premature deaths per year respectively1a; _________________ 1a ‘Air quality in Europe - 2020’, Report No. 09/20, European Environment Agency, 2020.
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) B a. whereas “the Lancet Planet Health" published a study on 19 January 2021 on the assessment of the impact of air pollution on mortality in almost thousand cities in Europe, whereas it was found that the top 10 cities where the effects of automobile pollution due to NO2 are the least perceptible are made up exclusively of northern European cities;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas air quality challenges vary widely depending on where they occur; whereas the main source of problems can be, for example, heating systems in poorer countries or transport in richer countries; whereas these challenges are also affected by natural factors such as topography;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 11 a (new) - having regard to the Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the second clean air outlook (COM(2021)3final),
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) B a. whereas there is a general improvement trend in air quality despite economic growth; whereas both road transport and industry have played a role in this process; whereas there is a positive trend as regards practical implementation of Member States’ obligation;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) B a. whereas air pollution has major negative impacts on ecosystems and is currently responsible for about two-thirds of ecosystem area in the EU being exposed to eutrophication;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas happily, life expectancy has risen everywhere in the EU in recent decades3a; _________________ 3aCf. Eurostat statistics on life expectancy in the Member States: https://bit.ly/3pV2iRY
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) B a. whereas the regulation of air quality is one of nature’s contribution to people, considered an environmental service;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B b (new) Bb. whereas air is a mixtures of gases in the earth's atmosphere, with dry air comprising chiefly nitrogen (around 78.08% vol) and oxygen (around 20.95% vol), together with argon (0.93% vol), carbon dioxide (0.04% vol) and traces of other gases; whereas solid and liquid particles known as aerosols are also components of air; whereas water and water vapour comprise 0.4% vol of the whole of the earth's atmosphere; whereas air also contains dust and biological particles (e.g. pollen, fungal and fern spores, bacteria and viruses); whereas all the above makes it difficult to define the precise composition of 'clean' air;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B b (new) B b. whereas for the last 29 years (1990 to 2018) the EU recorded reductions in emissions of all air pollutants; whereas the biggest fall was reported for sulphur oxides (SOx)which decreased by 90%, followed by non-methane volatile organic compounds(NMVOC) and nitrous oxides (NOx), which declined roughly by 60 % and 55 % respectively; whereas emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) decreased by almost half since the year 1990. and ammonia (NH3) emissions by roughly one quarter1a; _________________ 1awww.ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics- explained/index.php?title=Air_pollution_s tatistics_- _emission_inventories&oldid=403107
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B b (new) B b. whereas a recent decision of a local court ruled that the government of Brussels Region, where the European institutions are based, is legally forced within six months to place air quality measuring systems on the busiest roads, such as “rue de la loi”, that must measure the concentration of nitrogen dioxide, course particulate matter (known as PM10) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5);
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B b (new) B b. whereas air pollution has significant human and economic costs; whereas the benefits of measures for cleaner air always override the costs; whereas, according to EU Commission estimations, the full implementation of existing EU clean air legislation could lead to net benefits of up to 42 billion EUR a year by 2030, notably from avoided mortality and morbidity1a; _________________ 1aSupport to the development of the Second Clean Air Outlook, Specific Contract 6 under Framework Contract ENV.C.3/FRA/2017/0012, Final Report.
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B b (new) Bb. whereas in some places, especially in countries in the eastern part of the European Union, district heating can be a good alternative to dispersed and highly inefficient individual heating sources, which account for a large proportion of air pollution containing substances that are dangerous to health;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B b (new) B b. whereas there is evidence that exposure to air pollution could affect health outcomes of COVID-19, principally through damage to the respiratory and immune system and the expression of proteins that enable the virus to enter cells;
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 12 Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B c (new) Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B c (new) Bc. whereas some comprehensive programmes for addressing the problem of air quality are in their early stages, such as the 'Clean Air' programme in Poland, which was launched in September 2018;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B c (new) B c. whereas the majority of the EU population finds public action to promote good air quality to be insufficient, and over 70% of the EU population expects the EU to propose additional measures1a; _________________ 1aCommission Staff Working Document Fitness Check of the Ambient Air Quality Directives (SWD(2019) 427 final) of 28 November 2019
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B c (new) B c. whereas there was a significant reduction of all air pollutants in road transport despite an increase in passenger and freight transport1a; _________________ 1a EEA 2020
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B d (new) B d. whereas, while the EU outdoor air quality policy framework is well structured, EU legislation covering indoor air quality is fragmented; whereas a more holistic EU policy approach to air pollution may be needed, guaranteeing that ambient air quality, health and safety at work, chemical and buildings legislation are fully coherent and mutually reinforcing in particular to ensure the safety of workers and citizens from hazardous substances in consumer products, such as textiles and cleaning materials;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B d (new) B d. whereas high levels of O3 damage plant cells, impairing plants' reproduction and growth, thereby reducing agricultural crop yields, forest growth and biodiversity; whereas changing climatic conditions and the increase in emissions of carbon dioxide(CO2) and other pollutants, such as reactive nitrogen, modify the responses of vegetation to O3; whereas these modifiers influence the amount of O3 taken up by leaves, thus altering the magnitude of effects on plant growth, crop yields and ecosystem services;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B d (new) Bd. whereas, given the scale of proceedings initiated by the Commission against Member States for air quality violations, aligning the indicators in the Directive more closely with WHO indices will not improve air quality, but only increase the scale of infringements; whereas the current situation calls instead for countries to be given more support (technological, logistical and financial support and guidelines) to improve the implementation of existing legislation;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B e (new) B e. whereas the deposition of nitrogen compounds, emitted to the air as nitrogen oxides (NOx)and ammonia (NH3), can cause eutrophication, an oversupply of nutrients; whereas similarly to sulphur compounds, nitrogen compounds also have acidifying effects; whereas both eutrophication and acidification can affect terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and may lead to changes in species diversity and invasions by new species; whereas acidification may also lead to increased mobilisation of toxic metals in water or soils, which increases the risk of uptake in the food chain;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B e (new) Be. whereas improving air quality also entails changes in the mentality of society that cannot be easily achieved through changes in law, but rather through campaigns to raise awareness that changes, for example to heating or transport systems, although involving a high financial outlay will bring both health and financial benefits in the long term;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B f (new) B f. whereas toxic metal pollutants, such as lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd), can cause harmful effects in plants and animals, in addition to humans and although their atmospheric concentrations may be low, they still contribute to the deposition and build-up of toxic metals in soils, sediments and organisms; whereas toxic metals, and persistent organic compounds (POPs), in addition to their environmental toxicity, tend to bioaccumulate in animals and plants and to biomagnify, implying that concentrations in the tissues of organisms increase at successively higher levels in the food chain;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 a (new) - having regard to the communication from the German Federal Environment Agency of 10.2.2020 on the development of air quality in Germany from 1995 to 2019: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/ luft/daten-karten/entwicklung-der- luftqualitaet#entwicklung-der- luftqualitat-in-Deutschland,
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B g (new) B g. whereas urban population is the most exposed to air pollution, and only one person in ten lives in a city that complies with the World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines1a; whereas nowadays urban and peri-urban areas account for 75% of the EU’s population1b; _________________ 1a‘Ambient air pollution: A global assessment of exposure and burden of disease’, World Health Organization, 2016 1b‘Red Cities - Our vision for fair and sustainable city development’, Party of European Socialists, 2021
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B h (new) B h. whereas road traffic is the major source responsible for air pollution in urban areas because of the emissions from vehicles with internal combustion engines (exhaust traffic related emissions), and also brake and tyre wear (non-exhaust traffic related emissions); whereas the 2020 Air Quality Report published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) estimated that road transport continued to be the primary source of NOx emissions in theEU-28 in 2018, representing around 40 % of total EU NOx emissions; whereas, in particular, diesel vehicles are responsible for around 75% of the total air pollution costs related to road transport in the Union;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B i (new) B i. whereas the cost of air pollution to society, health and economic activities in Europe amounts to between €330 and 940 billion per year as a whole, but the cost of all measures that result in air quality improvements amounts to €70 to 80 billion per year1a; whereas the cost of inaction, with the harmful impacts of air pollution on citizens health, the economy and society, exceeds by far the cost of action, involving various policy measures; _________________ 1a‘EU policy on air quality: implementation of selected legislation’, European Parliamentary Research Service, 2021, page 26
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B j (new) B j. whereas agriculture is the third biggest source of primary PM10 emissions in the EU, as stressed by the European Environment Agency; whereas ammonia (NH3) emissions from agriculture contribute to episodes of high PM concentrations experienced across Europe each spring, as well as to both short- and long-term negative health impacts1a; _________________ 1ahttps://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and- maps/indicators/emissions-of-primary- particles-and-5/assessment-3
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B k (new) B k. whereas methane emissions from agriculture are an important precursor to ground-level ozone, which has adverse effects on human health; whereas 98 % of the EU’s urban population is exposed to ozone levels exceeding WHO guidelines;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B l (new) B l. whereas coal and lignite plants significantly contribute to mercury emissions in the EU and 62% of mercury emissions from EU industry come from coal-fired power plants; whereas mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin which is damaging to the nervous system at even relatively low levels of exposure;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B m (new) Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph -1 a (new) -1 a. (new) Heading: A partially effective tool that needs to be improved;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Recognises that
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Recognises that
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 a (new) - having regard to the European Commission’s report to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, “Second Clean Air Outlook” COM(2021) 3 final of 8 January 2021,
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Recognises that while the EU Ambient Air Quality (AAQ) Directives have been effective in setting common EU air quality standards and facilitating the exchange of information on air quality, they have failed to effectively reduce air pollution and to curb its adverse effects; draws attention to the fact that a high number of Member States still do not comply with current air quality standards
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Recognises that while overall progress has been made in improving air quality in the EU over the last decade and the EU Ambient Air Quality (AAQ) Directives have been effective in setting common EU air quality standards and facilitating the exchange of information on air quality,
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Recognises that while the EU Ambient Air Quality (AAQ) Directives have been effective in setting common EU air quality standards and facilitating the exchange of information on air quality, they have
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1 a. Emphasizes that within most part of European territory there has been an increase in a number of pathologies linked to air pollution, such as asthma, neurotoxic diseases and diseases caused by endocrine disruptors, which justifies not only the full application of European legislations but also stricter sanctions by the Commission in the event of repeated non-compliance by the Member States;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 b (new) 1 b. Stresses that, according to data collected by the European Environment Agency, and despite the reduction in PM10 emissions, the majority of the urban population in European countries monitored between 2000 and 2015 is exposed to concentrations above the annual guideline value recommended in the WHO guidelines;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that AAQ Directives are based on air quality standards that are
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that AAQ Directives are based on air quality standards that are now 15 to 20 years old, and that some of them are much weaker than current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and estimated reference levels based on excess lifetime cancer risk, and the levels suggested by the latest scientific evidence on human health and environment impacts; welcomes the commitment made in the European Green Deal to revise air quality standards and
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that AAQ Directives are based on air quality standards that are now 15 to 20 years old, and that some of them are much weaker than current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and the levels suggested by the latest
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that AAQ Directives are based on air quality standards that are now 15 to 20 years old, and that some of them are much weaker than current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and the levels suggested by the latest scientific evidence on human health impacts; welcomes the commitment made in the European Green Deal to revise air quality standards and a
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that AAQ Directives are based on air quality standards that are now 15 to 20 years old, and that some of them are much weaker than current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and the levels suggested by the latest scientific evidence on human health impacts;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 a (new) - having regard to the programmes of the Member States, such as Poland's 'Clean Air' programme of September 2018,
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that AAQ Directives are based on air quality standards that are now 15 to 20 years old, and that some of them are much weaker than current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and the levels suggested by the latest scientific evidence on human health impacts; welcomes the commitment made in the European Green Deal to revise air quality standards and cal
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that AAQ Directives are based on air quality standards and indicators that are now 15 to 20 years old and fail to factor in developments regarding the nature and composition of pollutants from new products and technologies , and that some of them are much weaker than current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and the levels suggested by the latest scientific evidence on human health impacts; welcomes the commitment made in the European Green Deal to revise and correlate air quality standards and indicators and align them more closely with WHO standards;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that AAQ Directives are based on air quality standards that are now 15 to 20 years old, and that some of them are much weaker than current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and the levels suggested by the latest scientific evidence on human health
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that AAQ Directives are based on air quality standards that are now 15 to 20 years old, and that some of them are much weaker than current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and the levels suggested by the latest scientific evidence on human health impacts; welcomes the commitment made in the European Green Deal to revise air quality standards and align them more closely with WHO standards; stresses the fact that revised air quality standard must be based on a feasibility study and accompanied by a specific set of measures needed for their achievement;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that AAQ Directives are based on air quality standards that are now 15 to 20 years old, and that some of them are much weaker than current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and the levels suggested by the latest scientific evidence on human health impacts; welcomes the commitment made in the European Green Deal to revise air quality standards and align them more closely with WHO standards, especially for particulate matter;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Notes that AAQ Directives are based on air quality standards that are now 15 to 20 years old, and that some of them are much weaker than current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and the levels suggested by the latest scientific evidence on human health impacts; welcomes the commitment made in the European Green Deal to revise air quality standards and align them
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Calls on the Member States to improve the implementation of existing legislation in line with the rulings of the Court of Justice of the European Union; calls on the Commission to lay down the necessary guidelines and, where necessary, provide financial support under existing instruments in order to improve the Member States' capacity to comply with existing standards;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2 a. Insists on the fact that the WHO guidelines are currently being revised and that their publication is now imminent; calls therefore for the setting up of a mechanism for the systematic adjustment of European standards to those of the WHO in order to ensure better environmental health protection;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 b (new) 2b. Notes that the rulings of the Court of Justice of the European Union are not in themselves an effective tool to encourage the implementation of air quality plans, and recommends that the Commission take additional measures to support Member States and regions in implementing air quality plans;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Recommends that
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 b (new) - having regard to the Commission press release of 23.11.2020 entitled 'Marked improvement in Europe's air quality over past decade, fewer deaths linked to pollution', https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscor ner/detail/en/ip_20_2168,
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Recommends that revised air quality standards should also cover other non-regulated pollutants with relevant health impacts in the EU;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Recommends
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Recommends that the Commission should first assess whether revised air quality standards should also cover other non-regulated pollutants with relevant health impacts in the EU; highlights the EU’s ambition to lead the transition to a healthy planet, and recalls that in order to become a global leader it should lead by example by
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Recommends that revised air quality standards should also cover other non-regulated pollutants with relevant health impacts in the EU or with potential contribution to transboundary air pollution, such as ultrafine particulate matter UFP or PM; highlights the EU’s ambition to lead the transition to a healthy planet, and recalls that in order to become a global leader it should lead by example by adopting, inter alia, ambitious quality standards for all air pollutants;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Recommends that revised air quality standards should also cover other non-regulated pollutants with relevant health impacts in the EU and short-term standards for PM2.5 and alert thresholds for PM 1a; highlights the EU’s ambition to lead the transition to a healthy planet, and recalls that in order to become a global leader it should lead by example by adopting, inter alia, ambitious quality standards for all air pollutants; _________________ 1aas recommended by auditors -outlined in the conclusions of the study by the EPRS, 2021: EU policy on air quality :Implementation of selected EU legislation, page 38
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Recommends that revised air quality standards should also cover other non-regulated pollutants, such as ultra- fine particles and black carbon, with relevant health impacts in the EU; highlights the EU’s ambition to lead the transition to a healthy planet, and recalls that in order to become a global leader it should lead by example by adopting, inter alia, ambitious quality standards for all air pollutants;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Recommends that revised air quality standards should also cover other non-regulated pollutants with relevant health impacts in the EU, such as ultrafine particles and black carbon; highlights the EU’s ambition to lead the transition to a healthy planet, and recalls that in order to become a global leader it should lead by
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Recommends that revised air quality standards should also cover other non-regulated pollutants
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3 a. (new) Heading: Measuring air pollution
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 b (new) - having regard to the study “Sampling points for air quality - Representativeness and comparability of measurement in accordance with Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe” by the European Parliament Policy Department for Economic, Scientific and Quality of Life Policies for the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety,
Amendment 90 #
4. Stresses the need to guarantee that air quality is being measured
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Stresses the need to guarantee that air quality is being measured equally and comparably by the Member States in appropriate locations and at emissions sources, in order to avoid underestimation of air pollution
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Stresses the need to guarantee that air quality is being measured by the Member States in appropriate locations and at emissions sources, in order to avoid underestimation of air pollution; calls on the
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Stresses the need to guarantee that air quality is being measured by the Member States in appropriate locations and at emissions sources, in order to avoid underestimation of air pollution; calls on the Member States to improve their
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Stresses the need to guarantee that air quality is being measured by the Member States in appropriate locations and at emissions sources, in order to avoid underestimation of air pollution; calls on the Member States to improve their monitoring networks, and on the Commission to enforce the obligations of the Directive in this regard, including by providing immediate support to Member States in setting up monitoring stations, the training and hiring of experts, and ensuring greater accuracy in inspection, control and monitoring; points to the need for proper measurement across Europe of the air quality close to airports and ports, to improve the understanding of the impact of air and waterborne transport on air pollution; stresses that, the fact that Member States can choose the monitoring sites from which they communicate data to the EEA, can also lead to potential underestimation of air pollutant concentrations;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Stresses the need to guarantee that air quality is being measured by the Member States in appropriate locations and at emissions sources, in order to avoid underestimation of air pollution; calls on the Member States to improve their monitoring networks, and on the
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Calls on the Commission to put forward measures to promote investment by the Member States in improved monitoring networks, the construction of monitoring stations, the training and recruitment of specialists and analysts and the introduction of more strigent oversight, control and monitoring procedures;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Stresses the need to provide ongoing training for experts, including retraining for those with experience in other fields who are seeking to enter his area of activity, and for young unemployed people;
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History
(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)
2021-02-17Show (4) Changes | Timetravel
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