# CE2004078EN.01079101.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/791 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/791

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(2004/C 78 E/0842)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3217/03

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 October 2003)

Subject:   Monitoring of atmospheric pollution in Greece

Subject:

Recently-published studies show that, even if atmospheric pollution levels are limited or relatively low, they have immediate effects on the health of urban dwellers and there have been warnings that Greece, and in particular the Athens area, may fail to meet the requirements of the World Health Organisation unless suitable measures are taken regarding environmental pollution.

In view of the fact that European Union limits regarding dangerous pollutants are being exceeded in Greece:

| 1. | What are the levels of concentration of volatile organic compounds, carcinogenic microparticles, benzene and ozone in the Attica region? |
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1.

What are the levels of concentration of volatile organic compounds, carcinogenic microparticles, benzene and ozone in the Attica region?

| 2. | What measures have been taken by the Greek Government, in particular during summer when temperatures are particularly high, to combat atmospheric pollution? |
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2.

What measures have been taken by the Greek Government, in particular during summer when temperatures are particularly high, to combat atmospheric pollution?

| 3. | To what extent did these measures correspond to European Union action in this area? |
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3.

To what extent did these measures correspond to European Union action in this area?

| 4. | Has Greece taken action to transpose Directive 96/61/EC (1) into national law following the ruling by the European Court of Justice in case C-64/01; |
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4.

Has Greece taken action to transpose Directive 96/61/EC (1) into national law following the ruling by the European Court of Justice in case C-64/01;

1

| 5. | Has Directive 2000/69/EC (2) relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air been incorporated into Greek legislation? |
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5.

Has Directive 2000/69/EC (2) relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air been incorporated into Greek legislation?

2

| 6. | Has the Commission been notified of the transposition by Greece of Directive 1999/30/EC (3) relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air and has it forwarded the relevant questionnaire to the Greek authorities? |
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6.

Has the Commission been notified of the transposition by Greece of Directive 1999/30/EC (3) relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air and has it forwarded the relevant questionnaire to the Greek authorities?

3

| 7. | Has Greece incorporated into its national legislation Directive 2001/81/EC (4) on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants? |
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7.

Has Greece incorporated into its national legislation Directive 2001/81/EC (4) on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants?

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Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 2003)

(17 December 2003)

| 1. to 3. | Based on reports officially submitted to the Commission under the provisions of current Community legislation, annual concentrations of PM10 (i.e. particles with a diameter less than ten micrometre (μm)) in the Attica region are in the range of 50-70 microgramme per cubic meter μg/m3) thus clearly exceeding the limit value (plus margin of tolerance) of 46 μg/m3 for the year 2003. The daily limit value to be met in 2005 is 50 μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 35 times a calendar year. In 2002 this concentration level was reported to be exceeded at stations in the Attica region in a range of 64 and 116 days.
  During the reporting period April-August 2002, the population information threshold for ozone of 180 μg/m3 (1 hour average) was exceeded on average on 17 days but at two stations on more than 30 days. The one hour maximum concentrations by far exceeded 200 μg/m3, with an absolute maximum of 316 μg/m3. Based on this year's report on ‘Air pollution by ozone in Europe’ roughly 17 % of the Greek stations which showed an exceedance of the information threshold also showed an exceedance of the alert threshold of 240 μg/m3. This alert threshold is laid down in the ‘new’ Directive 2002/3/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2002 relating to ozone in ambient air (5) that came into force on 9 September 2003.
  Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are not regulated under the existing ambient air quality legislation. The assessment of ambient air quality concerning benzene is to be reported to the Commission based on Council Directive 2000/69/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 16 November 2000 relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air, by the end of September 2004 for the first time. No information on VOCs and benzene in ambient air has been reported by Greece under Council Decision 97/101/EC of 27 January 1997, establishing a reciprocal exchange of information and data from networks and individual stations measuring ambient air pollution within the Member States (6).
  Current Community legislation on air quality (Air Quality Framework Directive (1996/62/EC (7)) and accompanying Daughter Directives (1999/30/EC (8), 2000/69/EC (9), 2002/3/EC)) sets out limit values for specific pollutants to be reached by certain attainment dates (e.g. 2005 for PM10). In the case of exceedance of a limit value plus a defined margin of tolerance (which decreases yearly reaching zero at the attainment date), Member States are obliged to submit plans and programmes to demonstrate how the limit value can be reached. These are due for the first time by the end of 2003. In particular concerning PM10, the Commission expects to receive these plans and programmes, since Greece did not provide so far the necessary justification to demonstrate that exceedances of PM10 are due to natural events.
  To combat ground-level ozone formation, along with acidification and soil eutrophication, national emission ceilings for VOC, sulphur dioxid (S02), potassium cobaltnitrite (N02) and ammonium reineckate (NH3) are to be met by 2010 under Directive 2001/81/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2001 on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants. So far the Commission did not receive information on transposition of this Directive, which was due by 27 November 2002. The Directive requires Member States to draw up national programmes to show how they are going to meet their ceilings. So far, Greece did not inform the Commission of such a programme, which was due by 31 December 2002. |
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1. to 3.

Based on reports officially submitted to the Commission under the provisions of current Community legislation, annual concentrations of PM10 (i.e. particles with a diameter less than ten micrometre (μm)) in the Attica region are in the range of 50-70 microgramme per cubic meter μg/m3) thus clearly exceeding the limit value (plus margin of tolerance) of 46 μg/m3 for the year 2003. The daily limit value to be met in 2005 is 50 μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 35 times a calendar year. In 2002 this concentration level was reported to be exceeded at stations in the Attica region in a range of 64 and 116 days.

3

3

3

During the reporting period April-August 2002, the population information threshold for ozone of 180 μg/m3 (1 hour average) was exceeded on average on 17 days but at two stations on more than 30 days. The one hour maximum concentrations by far exceeded 200 μg/m3, with an absolute maximum of 316 μg/m3. Based on this year's report on ‘Air pollution by ozone in Europe’ roughly 17 % of the Greek stations which showed an exceedance of the information threshold also showed an exceedance of the alert threshold of 240 μg/m3. This alert threshold is laid down in the ‘new’ Directive 2002/3/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2002 relating to ozone in ambient air (5) that came into force on 9 September 2003.

3

3

3

3

5

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are not regulated under the existing ambient air quality legislation. The assessment of ambient air quality concerning benzene is to be reported to the Commission based on Council Directive 2000/69/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 16 November 2000 relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air, by the end of September 2004 for the first time. No information on VOCs and benzene in ambient air has been reported by Greece under Council Decision 97/101/EC of 27 January 1997, establishing a reciprocal exchange of information and data from networks and individual stations measuring ambient air pollution within the Member States (6).

6

Current Community legislation on air quality (Air Quality Framework Directive (1996/62/EC (7)) and accompanying Daughter Directives (1999/30/EC (8), 2000/69/EC (9), 2002/3/EC)) sets out limit values for specific pollutants to be reached by certain attainment dates (e.g. 2005 for PM10). In the case of exceedance of a limit value plus a defined margin of tolerance (which decreases yearly reaching zero at the attainment date), Member States are obliged to submit plans and programmes to demonstrate how the limit value can be reached. These are due for the first time by the end of 2003. In particular concerning PM10, the Commission expects to receive these plans and programmes, since Greece did not provide so far the necessary justification to demonstrate that exceedances of PM10 are due to natural events.

7

8

9

To combat ground-level ozone formation, along with acidification and soil eutrophication, national emission ceilings for VOC, sulphur dioxid (S02), potassium cobaltnitrite (N02) and ammonium reineckate (NH3) are to be met by 2010 under Directive 2001/81/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2001 on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants. So far the Commission did not receive information on transposition of this Directive, which was due by 27 November 2002. The Directive requires Member States to draw up national programmes to show how they are going to meet their ceilings. So far, Greece did not inform the Commission of such a programme, which was due by 31 December 2002.

2

2

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| 4. | In its judgment of 7 March 2002, the Court of Justice stated that by failing to take the legislative, regulatory and administrative measures required to comply with Council Directive 9 6/61/EC of 24 September 1996 concerning integrated pollution prevention and control, Greece had failed to fulfil its obligations under that Directive. Following the judgment, the Greek authorities successively adopted and notified to the Commission Law 3010/2002, joint ministerial decision 15393/2332/2002 and joint ministerial decision 11014/703/9104/2003. Considering that Greece had complied with the obligation to transpose Directive 96/61/EC and with the requirements of the Court's judgment, the Commission closed the file on the matter. |
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4.

In its judgment of 7 March 2002, the Court of Justice stated that by failing to take the legislative, regulatory and administrative measures required to comply with Council Directive 9 6/61/EC of 24 September 1996 concerning integrated pollution prevention and control, Greece had failed to fulfil its obligations under that Directive. Following the judgment, the Greek authorities successively adopted and notified to the Commission Law 3010/2002, joint ministerial decision 15393/2332/2002 and joint ministerial decision 11014/703/9104/2003. Considering that Greece had complied with the obligation to transpose Directive 96/61/EC and with the requirements of the Court's judgment, the Commission closed the file on the matter.

| 5. | Directive 2000/69/EC has not been transposed into Greek law. The Commission has initiated infringement proceedings under Article 226 of the EC Treaty and a reasoned opinion has been addressed to Greece. |
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5.

Directive 2000/69/EC has not been transposed into Greek law. The Commission has initiated infringement proceedings under Article 226 of the EC Treaty and a reasoned opinion has been addressed to Greece.

| 6. | Directive 1999/30/EC was transposed into Greek law by Council Act 34/2002. This Act was notified to the Commission. |
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6.

Directive 1999/30/EC was transposed into Greek law by Council Act 34/2002. This Act was notified to the Commission.

| 7. | Directive 2001/81/EC has not been transposed into Greek law. The Commission has initiated infringement proceedings under Article 226 of the EC Treaty and a reasoned opinion has been addressed to Greece. |
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7.

Directive 2001/81/EC has not been transposed into Greek law. The Commission has initiated infringement proceedings under Article 226 of the EC Treaty and a reasoned opinion has been addressed to Greece.

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(1)  OJ L 257, 10.10.1996, p. 26.

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(2)  OJ L 313, 13.12.2000, p. 12.

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(3)  OJ L 163, 29.6.1999, p. 41.

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(4)  OJ L 309, 27.11.2001, p. 22.

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(5)  OJ L 67, 9.3.2002.

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(6)  OJ L 35, 5.2.1997.

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(7)  Council Directive 96/62/EC of 27 September 1996 on ambient air quality assessment and management, OJ L 296, 21.11.1996.

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(8)  Council Directive 1999/30/EC of 22 April 1999 relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air, OJ L 163, 29.6.1999.

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(9)  Directive 2000/69/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 16 November 2000 relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air, OJ L 313, 13.12.2000.

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