• European Parliament environment committee targets cleaner air standards

The Environment Committee of the European Parliament adopted its report on ambient air quality on its second reading on 9th October. It called for more ambitious EU air quality targets than those proposed by the European Commission and Council of Ministers, but also urged greater flexibility in the legislation to enable Member States to adapt to them.

The EP voted to reduce concentration of PM10 to 33 microgram per cubic metre (33 μg/m3) on average from 2010, down from the current limit value of 40 µg/m3. Regarding smaller dust particles (PM2.5), the EP agreed on a target value of 20 µg/m3 from 2010 that will become legally-binding in 2015. The Council is aiming for 25 µg/m3.

(Alliance of Liberals & Democrats for Europe, 9 October, www.alde.eu/index.php)