WRITTEN QUESTION E-3217/03 by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Monitoring of atmospheric pollution in Greece.
Date: 2003-10-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Attica, Greece, air quality, degree of pollution, national implementing measure, pollution control, pollution control measures

27.3.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 2003)

Interventions in Greece under the Structural Funds in the cultural sector under the second and third
Community Support Frameworks (CSF) aim to protect and develop the cultural heritage, develop modern
culture and achieve a balanced development in the regional supply of, and demand for, cultural goods and
services.

In terms of allocations to the cultural sector, the position is as follows:

(cid:1) under the second CSF: EUR 208 million;

(cid:1) under the third CSF: EUR 960 million.

The projects concerned relate to improving the buildings and technological
infrastructure in existing
museums, protecting and developing monuments and archaeological sites and reinforcing modern culture
infrastructure and institutional structures.

Under the third CSF, interventions in this field are supported under the ‘Culture’ Operational Programme
and the ‘Information Society’ Operational Programme. Additional actions can also be supported within the
various regional operational programmes.

The Operational Programme for Culture has an allocation of EUR 604 million. It includes allocations for
museums (EUR 192 million), archaeological sites (EUR 165 million), cultural centres (EUR 117 million)
and the Athens and Thessalonica concert halls (EUR 114 million) and technical assistance (EUR 16 million).

The Operational Programme for the Information Society includes cultural actions with an allocation of
EUR 129 million.

Under the regional operational programmes cultural interventions are allocated some EUR 227 million.

(2004/C 78 E/0842)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3217/03

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Monitoring of atmospheric pollution in Greece

(31 October 2003)

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?

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?

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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5. Has Directive 2000/69/EC (2) relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air

been incorporated into Greek legislation?

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?

7. Has Greece incorporated into its national legislation Directive 2001/81/EC (4) on national emission

ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants?

(1) OJ L 257, 10.10.1996, p. 26.
(2) OJ L 313, 13.12.2000, p. 12.
(3) OJ L 163, 29.6.1999, p. 41.
(4) OJ L 309, 27.11.2001, p. 22.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 2003)

1. to 3.
Based on reports officially submitted to the Commission under the provisions of current
than
Community legislation, annual concentrations of PM10 (i.e. particles with a diameter
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.

less

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 (1) 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 (2).

Current Community legislation on air quality (Air Quality Framework Directive (1996/62/EC (3)) and
accompanying Daughter Directives (1999/30/EC (4), 2000/69/EC (5), 2002/3/EC)) sets out limit values for
In the case of
specific pollutants to be reached by certain attainment dates (e.g. 2005 for PM10).
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 (SO2), potassium cobaltnitrite (NO2) 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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In its judgment of 7 March 2002, the Court of Justice stated that by failing to take the legislative,
4.
regulatory and administrative measures
required to comply with Council Directive 96/61/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.

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

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

6.
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.

(1) OJ L 67, 9.3.2002.
(2) OJ L 35, 5.2.1997.
(3) Council Directive 96/62/EC of 27 September 1996 on ambient air quality assessment and management, OJ L 296,

21.11.1996.

(4) 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.

(5) 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.

(2004/C 78 E/0843)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3224/03

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(31 October 2003)

Subject: EC Commission proposal to replace Council Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 on Drivers’ Hours

I have received several letters from charities and voluntary organisations concerned that the above new
replacement regulation will not include the current exemption for ‘vehicles used as shops at local markets
or for door-to-door selling or used for mobile banking, exchange or saving transactions, for worship, for
the lending of books, records or cassettes, for cultural events or exhibitions and specially fitted for such
uses’. They are concerned that
their vehicles will not be able to comply with the financial and
administrative implications of the new regulation, and will have to be withdrawn from service.

While I appreciate the importance of the new regulation, would the Commission consider reinstating the
current exemption in order that voluntary organisations could continue to provide a service to the
community?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 2003)

The Commission’s proposal (1) seeks, amongst other things,
the considerable number of
exemptions, derogations, and special arrangements in the current Regulation (2) to those which are strictly
necessary, thereby limiting any possible abuse. In drawing up its original proposal, the Commission was
advised that this particular derogation was outdated and could be removed.

to restrict