ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES 
DE LA COMMISSION 
 
 
 
COLLECTION RELIEE DES 
DOCUMENTS "COM" 
 
 
 
 
COM ( 83) 338 
 
 
 
Vol. 1983/0 135 
  
 
Disclaimer  
Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents 
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the openi ng to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Community and the European Atomic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), this f ile is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.  
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februar 198 3 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen  
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983,  
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003  
(ABI. L 243 vom 27 .9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit  
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5  
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.  
COMMISSION O F THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(83) 338 FINAL  
BRUSSELS 8 JUNE 1983
ACID DEPOSITIONS
(communication  from the commission  to the council)
COM(83) 338 FINAL]

1« The increasing extent and transboundary nature of certain aspects of 
atmospheric pollution generally known as acid rain or acid depositions 
call for certain careful attention and special measures on the part 
of the Community«
2« The main points involved are :
- the damage done to forests and soils;
- the acidification of surface water, especially lakes, and the 
consequent effects on aquatic life;
- the corrosion of structures, particularly historical monuments«
3« Although scientists are still unable to provide a full explanation 
of the causes and mechanisms, it seems to be generally accepted that 
the substances mainly involved are sulphur and nitrogen oxides and 
photochemical oxidants« These pollutants come from industrial plant 
and motor vehicles«
4« The Community and its Member States have already taken a number 
of steps to combat air pollution- Community measures include :
- setting up an observation network;
- organising a research programme;
- fixing air quality standards, particularly for sulphur 
dioxide and lead in the air;
- setting emission standards for motor vehicle exhaust gases»

2.
The Community and its Member States are also signatories of the 
Geneva Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution.
5. Apart from implementing the Community Directives, the Member States 
have acted on their own initiative to limit emissions of air pollutants. 
Their measures involve authorisation and reporting systems for certain 
types of industrial plants.
6. The Commission feels that these initiatives should be supplemented and 
strengthened because :
- the strictness with which Community measures on standards are 
implemented varies from one Member State to the next; some States 
permit great flexibility with regard to emission levels;
- Community standards cover only some of the pollutants involved;
- the standards were laid down essentially from the public health point 
of view without fully taking into account the environmental 
considerations, which sometimes call for stricter measures.
7. There is therefore great disparity between national measures with the 
result that the burden on the production costs varies from country to 
country and may lead to distortion in some instances.
8. For these reasons and in view of the increasing scale of the acid 
deposition phenomena recorded, the Commission proposes :
- to supplement existing Directives with ones on industrial installations 
which create the most pollution, such as large furnaces, and on 
permissible levels for nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere. The proposed 
measures should be applied progressively in view of their economic 
effects and the state of existing technologies.

3.
- to set up, under the Common Agricultural Policy, a data-recording 
network for monitoring the effects of acid rain on forests throughout 
the Community;
- to hold an international scientific symposium in September at 
Karlsruhe to assess the present state of knowledge regarding acid 
depositions;
- in the light of the results of that symposium, to expand Community 
research in this field.
9. In addition, as regards the reduction of pollution from motor vehicle 
exhaust gases, the Commission has decided, in view of the close links 
between the lead content of petrol and the possibility of reducing the 
other pollutants in exhaust gases :
- to direct its work (in the context of its global approach and with 
due regard to the regulations passed in non-member countries) on the 
adaptation of Community rules relative to the automobile sector in a 
perspective of the complete removal of lead from petrol,taking into account 
the consequences of such removal on refining costs, energy expenditure
and the automobile manufacturing industry, and holding consultations, 
which will be essential, with the parties concerned;
— to invite Member States initially to bring the lead level in their 
petrol closer to the 0.15 grammes/litre laid down as the lower limit 
in current Community legislation.
10. Having received Parliament's opinion, the Council should immediately 
adopt a draft Directive designed to reduce pollution from exhaust 
gases in line with ECE regulations.
11. In conclusion, the Commission invites the European Council to take note 
of the above initiatives and to support them.