• Green NGOs Position Paper on the Proposed Clean Air for Europe Directive

    We welcome the Commission’s proposal to introduce new standards for fine particles (PM2.5), but the text proposal needs to be strengthened significantly in order to ensure a better protection of public health. On the other hand we strongly object to the proposed weakening of existing limit values, which would erode the health protection provided for by the existing directives.

    Our main demands are:

    1. Ensure meaningful and ambitious standards to reduce particles
      Introduce PM2.5 cap of 12 μg/m3 combined with 20% exposure-reduction Make second step to reduce PM10 mandatory
    2. Maintain already agreed and adopted standards
      No new exemptions for pollutants from natural sources No new derogations for meeting limit values