Introduction

Since the early 1970s, the EU has been working to improve air quality by controlling emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere, improving fuel quality, and by integrating environmental protection requirements into the transport and energy sectors. As a result, much progress has been made in tackling air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and benzene.

However, until the early nineties, EU policy regarding air pollution had tended to be fragmented. Despite the progress made to date, poor air quality continues to cause serious and avoidable problems. As a step towards improving air quality, the European Commission adopted in 2013 a Clean Air Policy Package, including a Clean Air Programme for Europe (CAFE) setting objectives for 2020 and 2030, and accompanying legislative measures.

The CAFE programme was based on an extensive review of the EU air policy to date. This policy package also included a proposal for Directives on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants (the NEC Directive) and on limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from medium combustion plants (the MCP Directive). The CAFE set highest priority to dealing with fine particles (PM) and ground-level ozone, both because of their serious effects on health and the fact that much would have to be done if concentrations were to be brought down to acceptable levels. Other outstanding air pollutant problems, such as acidification and eutrophication, were also given high attention. Through its stakeholder consultation process, CAFE involved member states, industry and environmental groups in the analysis for a Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution (TSAP), which established interim environmental objectives for 2020.

In 2018, The Commission adopted a Communication A Europe that protects: Clean air for all that provides national, regional and local actors with practical help to improve air quality in Europe. It describes examples of measures to reduce emissions from the transport sector, power and heat, industry and agricultural sector.

As part of the European Green Deal, the EU is revising the Ambient Air Quality Directive, to align air quality standards more closely with the recommendations of the World Health Organization. An Inception Impact Assessment outlines the approach towards Commission adoption planned for the second half of 2022.

As regards implementation, the Commission has already held several Clean Air Dialogues with Member States to support their implementation efforts. It is also seeking synergies with Energy Union and Climate Change policies, including the Clean Mobility Package, as well as with dialogue initiatives, such as the Platform for Coal Regions in Transition set-up under the 'Clean Energy for All Europeans' framework.