WRITTEN QUESTION E-0460/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 February 2002)

Subject: Increase in ozone levels in Greece

According to Greek press reports, Greece is one of the worst offenders as regards exceeding the threshold for bad ozone. This is due largely to cross-border primary pollution from countries to the north and north-west of Greece, such as the former eastern bloc countries (the former USSR and others), Germany, northern Italy, Romania and Bulgaria. According to the same sources, even if it cuts ozone emissions by 50 %, Greece will only be able to reduce levels slightly (10 % at most), owing to the smog imported from other countries.

Is the Commission aware of this state of affairs? What view does it take of this matter? What measures does it propose should be taken both in Greece and in other countries facing the same problem? Does it intend to propose that strict measures be adopted in those countries responsible for this cross-border ozone pollution to induce them to reduce their emissions? If the Commission draws up a new Community directive demanding a further reduction in ozone emissions in the EU countries, will it take into account the problem of the cross-border movement of ozone?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(11 April 2002)

The Commission is aware that Greece suffers from very high ozone levels, particularly in the Athens area. While transboundary pollution certainly contributes to the background level, exceedances are to a large extent due to local sources (mainly traffic and industry) combined with the climate and topography of the region., as evidenced by Community supported research since several years (Medcaphot project, Atmospheric Environment, vol 32, No 12 June 1998).

Ozone pollution is a persistent problem throughout the Community, and is therefore one of the main focuses of the Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) programme launched by the Commission in 2001. This will lead to an integrated thematic strategy to combat air pollution in 2004.

The Commission also works closely with the United Nations/Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air pollution and has submitted a proposal for the Community to accede to the 1999 Multi-Effects, Multi-Pollutant Protocol under that Convention, which sets national emission ceilings for countries in the UN/ECE region. The Council and Parliament also adopted last autumn a directive(1) setting stricter national emission ceilings (NEC) for Member States, and is currently negotiating correspondingly stricter ceilings for the accession candidate countries. Both the Protocol and the NEC Directive cover nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, which give rise to ozone pollution.

Finally, the Council and Parliament earlier this year adopted directive 2002/3/EC(2) setting target values for levels of ozone in ambient air, to be attained by 2010 save where not achievable through proportionate measures.

(1) Directive 2001/81/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2001 on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants, OJ L 309, 27.11.2001.

(2) Directive 2002/3/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2002 relating to ozone in ambient air, OJ L 67, 9.3.2002.