Briefing

Why air quality is about to land EU countries in court

May 16, 2018

Thursday (17 May) the European Commission is expected to refer Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Hungary, and Romania to the European Court of Justice for their failure to tackle repeated breaches of EU air quality limits. It is also expected to take Germany, the UK, and Luxembourg to court for failing to take action against the VW group cars with illegal defeat devices

These cases refer to breaches by countries of the following laws:

  • Germany, France, UK: for breaches of NO2 levels set for 2010 under the Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD; Directive 2008/50/EC);
  • Italy, Hungary, Romania: for breaches of PM10 limits set for 2010 under AAQD;
  • Germany, the UK, and Luxembourg: for failing to take action on VW group cars with illegal defeat devices used to cheat emissions tests (Directive 2007/46/EC).

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