Air quality
Introduction. Thematic Briefing – Air pollution (2015), European Environmental Agency, Copenhagen
Air Quality Legislation
DIRECTIVE 2011/92/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (codification) (Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive)
DIRECTIVE 2014/52/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 April 2014 amending Directive 2011/92/EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (amending Environmental Impact Assessment Directive)
Informal consolidated version of the EIA Directive
• European Commission, Report from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the application and effectiveness of the EIA Directive (Directive 85/337/EEC, as amended by Directives 97/11/EC and 2003/35/EC) COM (2009) 378 final
DIRECTIVE 2010/75/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) (Recast)
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 9 October 2014 establishing best available techniques (BAT) conclusions, under Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on industrial emissions, for the refining of mineral oil and gas
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 26 March 2013 establishing the best available techniques (BAT) conclusions under Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on industrial emissions for the production of cement, lime and magnesium oxide
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 28 February 2012 establishing the best available techniques (BAT) conclusions under Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on industrial emissions for the manufacture of glass
DIRECTIVE 2008/50/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe
DIRECTIVE 2004/107/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 15 December 2004 relating to arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air (Fourth Daughter Directive)
DIRECTIVE 2001/42/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 27 June 2001 on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment (Strategic Environmental Assessment)
Air Quality Legislation (additional documents)
REGULATION (EC) No 595/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 18 June 2009 on type-approval of motor vehicles and engines with respect to emissions from heavy duty vehicles (Euro VI) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information and amending Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 and Directive 2007/46/EC and repealing Directives 80/1269/EEC, 2005/55/EC and 2005/78/EC
DIRECTIVE 2009/33/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 692/2008 of 18 July 2008 implementing and amending Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on type-approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information
REGULATION (EC) No 715/2007 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 June 2007 on type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information
DIRECTIVE 2001/81/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 October 2001 on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants
DIRECTIVE 2000/60/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 1999/13/EC of 11 March 1999 on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain activities and installations
COUNCIL DECISION 97/101/EC of 27 January 1997 establishing a reciprocal exchange of information and data from networks and individual stations measuring ambient air pollution within the Member States (EoI Decision)
DIRECTIVE 97/68/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 December 1997 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery (consolidated text)
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 96/62/EC of 27 September 1996 on ambient air quality assessment and management (Air Quality Framework Directive) (repealed as from 11 June 2010)
DIRECTIVE 2002/3/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 12 February 2002 relating to ozone in ambient air (Third Daughter Directive) (repealed as from 11 June 2010)
DIRECTIVE 2000/69/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 November 2000 relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air (Second Daughter Directive) (repealed as from 11 June 2010)
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 1999/30/EC of 22 April 1999 relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air (First Daughter Directive) (repealed as from 11 June 2010)
Case C-71/10, Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 28 July 2011. Council Directive 85/203/EEC of 7 March 1985 on air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide
Council Directive 82/884/EEC of 3 December 1982 on a limit value for lead in the air
Environmental Noise Directive
DIRECTIVE 2002/49/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise
COMMISSION DIRECTIVE (EU) 2015/996 of 19 May 2015 establishing common noise assessment methods according to Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
European Commission, Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the Environmental Noise Directive in accordance with Article 11 of Directive 2002/49/EC COM (2011) 321 final, 01.06.2011 (not published in the Official Journal)
European Commission, Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council concerning existing Community measures relating to sources of environmental noise, pursuant to article 10.1 of Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise COM (2004) 160 final, 10 March 2004
Environmental Noise Directive (additional documents)
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2015/429 of 13 March 2015 setting out the modalities to be followed for the application of the charging for the cost of noise effects
REGULATION (EU) No 598/2014 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 April 2014 on the establishment of rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at Union airports within a Balanced Approach and repealing Directive 2002/30/EC
REGULATION (EU) No 540/2014 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 April 2014 on the sound level of motor vehicles and of replacement silencing systems, and amending Directive 2007/46/EC and repealing Directive 70/157/EEC
REGULATION (EU) No 168/2013 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 15 January 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 748/2012 of 3 August 2012 laying down implementing rules for the airworthiness and environmental certification of aircraft and related products, parts and appliances, as well as for the certification of design and production organisations
REGULATION (EC) No 216/2008 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 February 2008 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency, and repealing Council Directive 91/670/EEC, Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 and Directive 2004/36/EC
DIRECTIVE 2008/57/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 17 June 2008 on the interoperability of the rail system within the Community (consolidated version)
DIRECTIVE 2006/93/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 12 December 2006 on the regulation of the operation of aeroplanes covered by Part II, Chapter 3 , Volume 1 of Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, second edition (1988) (codified version)
DIRECTIVE 2005/88/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 14 December 2005 amending Directive 2000/14/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors
DIRECTIVE 2002/30/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 26 March 2002 on the establishment of rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at Community airports
DIRECTIVE 2001/16/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 19 March 2001 on the interoperability of the trans-European conventional rail system
DIRECTIVE 2000/14/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 8 May 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors
DIRECTIVE 1999/62/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 17 June 1999 on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures
DIRECTIVE 2011/76/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 27 September 2011 amending Directive 1999/62/EC on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures
DIRECTIVE 94/25/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 June 1994 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to recreational craft
DIRECTIVE 2013/53/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 November 2013 on recreational craft and personal watercraft and repealing Directive 94/25/EC
DIRECTIVE 2003/44/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 June 2003 amending Directive 94/25/EC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to recreational craft
Access to Justice Legislation
REGULATION (EC) No 1367/2006 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 6 September 2006 on the application of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters to Community institutions and bodies
Directive 2003/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 providing for public participation in respect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the environment and amending with regard to public participation and access to justice Council Directives 85/337/EEC and 96/61/EC
DIRECTIVE 2003/4/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 28 January 2003 on public access to environmental information and repealing Council Directive 90/313/EEC.
EU and Member States' Case Law
Case N° 369428, Judgement of the Council of State (Conseil d’État) of France, 6th / 1st United Subsection (Sous-Sections réunies (SSR)) of 10 June 2015 (available only in French)
C-404/13, Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 19 November 2014, The Queen, on the application of ClientEarth v Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
[related to C-404/13] Judgement of the UK Supreme Court of 16 April 2015 in Case [2012] EWCA Civ 897 ClientEarth v Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Judgement of the Supreme Federal Administrative Court of Germany (Bundesverwaltungsgericht) of 5 September 2013 in Case [2013] C 21.12, “Darmstadt/Germany” case (available only in German)
C-420/11, Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 14 March 2013, Jutta Leth v Republik Österreich and Land Niederösterreich
C-68/11, Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 19 December 2012, European Commission v Italian Republic
C-34/11, Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 15 November 2012.
European Commission v Portuguese Republic
C-120/10, Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 8 September 2011, European Air Transport SA v Collège d'Environnement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale and Région de Bruxelles-Capitale, Reference for a preliminary ruling: Conseil d'État - Belgium
C-240/09, Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 8 March 2011, Lesoochranárske zoskupenie VLK v Ministerstvo životného prostredia Slovenskej republiky
Joined cases C-165/09 to C-167/09, Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 26 May 2011, Stichting Natuur en Milieu and Others v College van Gedeputeerde Staten van Groningen (C-165/09) and College van Gedeputeerde Staten van Zuid-Holland (C-166/09 and C-167/09)
C-115/09, Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 12 May 2011, Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland, Landesverband Nordrhein-Westfalen eV v Bezirksregierung Arnsberg
C-28/09, Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 21 December 2011, European Commission v Republic of Austria
C-263/08, Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 15 October 2009, Djurgården-Lilla Värtans Miljöskyddsförening v Stockholms kommun genom dess marknämnd
C-237/07, Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 25 July 2008, Dieter Janecek v Freistaat Bayern
C-138/06, Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of 14 December 2006, Commission of the European Communities v United Kingdom
C-78/06, Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of 7 December 2006 – Commission v Luxembourg (French)
C-320/03, Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 15 November 2005, Commission of the European Communities v Republic of Austria
C-387/97, Judgment of the Court of 4 July 2000, Commission of the European Communities v Hellenic Republic
C-361/88, Judgment of the Court of 30 May 1991, Commission of the European Communities v Federal Republic of Germany
C- 6/64, Judgment of the Court of 15 July 1964. Flaminio Costa v E.N.E.L.
C-25/62, Judgment of the Court of 15 July 1963, Plaumann & Co. v Commission of the European Economic Community
Useful documents: International law
UN ECE, Protecting your Environment – The Power is in your Hands: A Quick Guide to the Aarhus Convention (April, 2014)
UNECE, The Aarhus Convention: An Implementation Guide (2nd ed) (2013)
Andrusevych, A et al., Case Law of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (2004 – 2011) (2nded)
CONVENTION ON ACCESS TO INFORMATION, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, Aarhus, Denmark, 25 June 1998
1979 Geneva Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution
UN ECE, Guidance Document on the Aarhus Convention Compliance Mechanism (undated)
Useful documents: policy documents, reports, fact sheets
European Environment State and Outlook report (SOER 2015), European Environment Agency, Copenhagen
Air quality planning development guidance (2015), prepared by the Institute of Air Quality Management, UK
European Commission, Report from the Commission: Aarhus Convention Implementation Report COM (2014) 2506 final, 16.4.2014
EEA (2014), Air quality in Europe - 2014 report, EEA Report No 5/2014, European Environmental Agency
EEA (2014), Noise in Europe 2014, EEA Report No 10/2014, European Environment Agency, Copenhagen
The Clean Air Handbook. A practical guide to EU air quality law (2014, Client Earth)
Air Pollution country fact sheets (2014), prepared by the European Environmental Agency
European Commission, Report from the Commission: Aarhus Convention Implementation Report COM (2014) 2506 final, 16 April 2014
Exceedance of air quality limit values in urban areas (November 2014), report by the European Environmental Agency
DECISION No 1386/2013/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 November 2013 on a General Union Environment Action Programme to 2020 ‘Living well, within the limits of our planet’ (7th Environment Action Programme)
European Commission, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a Clean Air Programme for Europe COM (2013) 918 final, 18 December 2013
Zones in Relation to EU Air Quality Thresholds (2012) (with special regard to the maps with the reported exceedances of air quality limit values)
European Commission, Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the experience gained in the application of Directive 2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information COM (2012) 774 final, 17 December 2012
European Commission, Improving the delivery of benefits from EU environment measures: building confidence through better knowledge and responsiveness COM (2012) 95 final, 7 March 2012
European Commission, Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on Thematic Strategy on air pollution COM (2005) 446 final, 21 September 2005
European Commission, Communication from the Commission on the Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) Programme: Towards a Thematic Strategy for Air Quality COM (2001) 245 final, 04 May 2001