Air quality plans - Article 23
Factual implementation of limit values
In 2013, European Commission stated in "A Clean Air Programme for Europe":
Since then, the situation may have become worse, as since 1 January 2015 postponements of compliance under Article 22 of Directive 2008/50/EC are no longer allowed and because, at the same time, a limit value for PM2.5 became binding for all Member States.
Article 26 of Directive 2008/50 provides that public in Member States shall be informed "adequately and in good time" of air quality plans that are elaborated under Article 23. However, nothing is said about what happens, when binding limit values are exceeded, but the development of an air quality plan is delayed or omitted. Overall, much depends on the political will of Member States and responsible local authorities, whether air quality plans are effective, bring air pollution quickly down to the required limit and target values and provide for long-term solutions to the air pollution problem in the zone or agglomeration in question. Means of EU to ensure the adoption of effective air quality plans are rather limited.