# C_2016343EN.01002701.xml

| 19.9.2016 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 343/27 |
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Action brought on 15 June 2016 — European Commission v Republic of Poland

(Case C-336/16)

(2016/C 343/39)

Language of the case: Polish

Parties

Applicant: European Commission (Agents: K. Hermann and E. Manhaeve)

Defendant: Republic of Poland

Form of order sought

The applicant claims that the Court should:

| — | declare that the Republic of Poland has failed to comply with its obligations under Article 13(1), in conjunction with Annex XI, Article 23(1), second subparagraph, and Article 22(3), in conjunction with Annex XI, of Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe( 1 ) by reason of the facts that:
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since 2007 and up to at least 2013, the daily limit values for particulate matter PM10 were exceeded in 35 ambient air quality zones and the annual limit values for particulate matter PM10 were exceeded in 9 ambient air quality zones, and no information has been provided to indicate that this situation has improved; —
no appropriate measures have been incorporated in the ambient air quality programmes in order to minimise the period in which the limit values for particulate matter PM10 in the air are exceeded; —
the daily limit values, increased by the tolerance margin, were exceeded from 1 January 2010 to 10 June 2011 in zone 14.17 — City of Radom –, in zone 14.18 — Pruszków-Żyrardów –, and in zone 16.15 — Kędzierzyn-Koźle — as well as from 1 January 2011 to 10 June 2011 in zone 30.3 — Ostrów-Kępno — and; —
Article 23(1), second subparagraph, of Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe was not correctly implemented; —
order the Republic of Poland to pay the costs. | — | since 2007 and up to at least 2013, the daily limit values for particulate matter PM10 were exceeded in 35 ambient air quality zones and the annual limit values for particulate matter PM10 were exceeded in 9 ambient air quality zones, and no information has been provided to indicate that this situation has improved; | — | no appropriate measures have been incorporated in the ambient air quality programmes in order to minimise the period in which the limit values for particulate matter PM10 in the air are exceeded; | — | the daily limit values, increased by the tolerance margin, were exceeded from 1 January 2010 to 10 June 2011 in zone 14.17 — City of Radom –, in zone 14.18 — Pruszków-Żyrardów –, and in zone 16.15 — Kędzierzyn-Koźle — as well as from 1 January 2011 to 10 June 2011 in zone 30.3 — Ostrów-Kępno — and; | — | Article 23(1), second subparagraph, of Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe was not correctly implemented; | — | order the Republic of Poland to pay the costs. |
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| — | since 2007 and up to at least 2013, the daily limit values for particulate matter PM10 were exceeded in 35 ambient air quality zones and the annual limit values for particulate matter PM10 were exceeded in 9 ambient air quality zones, and no information has been provided to indicate that this situation has improved; | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | no appropriate measures have been incorporated in the ambient air quality programmes in order to minimise the period in which the limit values for particulate matter PM10 in the air are exceeded; | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | the daily limit values, increased by the tolerance margin, were exceeded from 1 January 2010 to 10 June 2011 in zone 14.17 — City of Radom –, in zone 14.18 — Pruszków-Żyrardów –, and in zone 16.15 — Kędzierzyn-Koźle — as well as from 1 January 2011 to 10 June 2011 in zone 30.3 — Ostrów-Kępno — and; | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | Article 23(1), second subparagraph, of Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe was not correctly implemented; | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | order the Republic of Poland to pay the costs. | | | | | | | | | | |

Pleas in law and main arguments

Since 2007 the daily and annual limit values for particulate matter PM10 have been exceeded in, respectively, 35 and 9 zones. Notwithstanding this infringement of Article 13(1) of, in conjunction with Annex XI to, Directive 2008/50/EC, the Republic of Poland has, contrary to the second subparagraph of Article 23(1) of Directive 2008/50/EC, failed to include any appropriate measures in the air quality plans in order to ensure that the periods in which limits are exceeded can be kept as short as possible.

The lack of effectiveness of the measures concerned results, inter alia, from the period during which limit values are exceeded and from the absence of legal provisions laying down emission values for fuels used in the area of individual heat generation and emission values for individual heating installations.

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( 1 )  OJ 2008 L 152, p. 1.

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