WRITTEN QUESTION E-0432/03 by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission. Air pollution: exceeding of threshold values for particulate matter.
Date: 2003-02-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: air quality, application of EU law, environmental standard, mortality, public health

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/325

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Under Articles 87 et seq. of the EC Treaty, to which the Honourable Member refers, the Commission has a
specific power to decide on compatibility of State aids with the common market. On the other hand it falls
to Member States, not to the Commission, to take the initiative in proposing aids that can be considered
compatible. No Member State has so far sent any proposal for fishery or aquaculture sector aid in
connection with the Prestige disaster.
It should be made clear however that under Article 19(2) of
Regulation 2792/1999 (1), as amended by Regulation 2369/2002 (2),
the Member States’ obligatory
financial contributions to development plan measures co-financed by the Community need no longer be
notified to the Commission in advance.

In the same Structural Fund context the Commission, using its powers of initiative under the EC Treaty,
sent the Council a proposal (3) for a Regulation, following which the Council adopted Regulation (EC)
2372/2002 of 20 December 2002 instituting specific measures to compensate individuals and enterprises
in the Spanish fishing, shellfish culture and aquaculture industries affected by oil spills from the Prestige (4).
Waiving certain provisions of Regulation (EC) No2792/1999 and providing additional Community
funding, this Regulation affords an exceptional level of support in the Spanish coastal zones affected. In
addition, under the existing Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) provisions compensation for
temporary cessation of activities can be given to fishermen from other Member States who have had to
stop fishing because of the Prestige disaster. The Commission has not yet received any applications to this
end.

(1) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.
(2) Council Regulation, (EC) No 2369/2002, of 20 December 2002 amending Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 laying
down detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector, OJ L 358,
31.12.2002.

(3) COM(2002) 766 final.
(4) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002.

(2004/C 88 E/0330)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0432/03

by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission

(18 February 2003)

Subject: Air pollution: exceeding of threshold values for particulate matter

Pursuant to Council Directive 1999/30/EC (1), a report is due to be published before the end of this year
based on the experience acquired in the application of this Directive. An initial provisional Commission
report (entitled ‘Overview of Methods and Results of the Preliminary Assessment of Air Quality in Europe
under Directives 96/62/EC and 1999/30/EC’) shows that the threshold values for particulate matter (PM10)
have been exceeded in a large number of cases.

Can the Commission indicate the extent to which more recent data have confirmed this alarming picture?

Can the Commission indicate the number of early deaths in the European Union that may be attributed to
air pollution caused by particulate matter?

Does the Commission feel that the Member States in which the limits have been exceeded in this way have
taken measures which were inadequate to ensure that emissions of particulate matter remained below the
threshold values?

Can the Commission indicate what measures it is thinking of taking?

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

C 88 E/326

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2003)

According to 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, Member States were
obliged to send data for the year 2001 to the Commission no later than 30 September 2002. The
Commission will prepare a summary report based on this data, which will also show the extent of
exceedances of limit values. The recent data indicates that, compared to the limit values, PM10 (1) levels in
parts of Europe are indeed rather high. Problems are more related to exceedances of the short term limit
value (no more than 35 exceedances of the daily average limit of 50 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3)),
especially at hot spot locations such as traffic-related or industrial sites, rather than the long term limit
value of 40µg/m3 (annual mean). At urban background stations, exceedances are more frequently reported
in southern Europe than in northern and western regions. It must be noted, however, that these limit
values will only become legally binding in 2005.

In order to assess the health impacts of air pollution, including particulate matter, the Commission is
giving financial support to a systematic review of health aspects of air quality in Europe being carried out
by the World Health Organisation (WHO). According to a final draft report recently available, the long-
term exposure to current ambient PM concentrations may lead to a marked reduction in average life
expectancy, potentially reaching one to two years. Furthermore, a recent independent study for the
combined population of France, Austria and Switzerland (around 75 million people) estimates that some
40 000 deaths per year can be attributed to ambient PM (Kunzli et al. 2000 (2)).

At this stage, it is too early to draw any clear conclusions on whether the Member States are taking
adequate measures to ensure compliance with the limit values by 2005, as required by Directive 1999/30/
EC. According to the two Directives (96/62/EC (3) and 1999/30/EC), Member States have to report
annually on plans and programmes showing how they will achieve compliance, with the first report due in
December 2003. At that time the Commission will be in a position to assess the prospects for compliance
with the limit values.

However, in view of the urgent need to reduce PM levels, the Commission has already identified PM as one
of the core pollutants being dealt with under the Clean Air For Europe (CAFE) programme, launched in
May 2001 (4). The aim of CAFE is to prepare the development of the thematic strategy for air pollution
foreseen in the Sixth Environmental Action Programme and due to be delivered in 2005. This strategy will
include policy options on how to decrease further the health risks from PM. The Commission is supported
in this task by several working groups comprising experts from Member States, Accession Countries,
industry and environmental non-governmental organisations.

(1) Particulate Matter less than 10 micrometer (µm) in diameter.
(2) Kunzli, N. et al. Public-health impact of outdoor and traffic-related air pollution: a European assessment. Lancet

356: 795 (cid:1) 801 (2000).

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

21.11.1996.

(4) COM(2001) 245 final.

(2004/C 88 E/0331)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0547/03

by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 February 2003)

Subject: Beef and live cattle exports to the Lebanon and Egypt

Would the Commission let me know the quantity (expressed in carcass weight equivalent of (1) live cattle
and (2) beef exported by the Community to (a) the Lebanon and (b) Egypt in the three most recent
calendar years for which figures are available?