Communication from the Commission on notifications of postponements of attainment deadlines and exemptions from the obligation to apply certain limit values pursuant to Article 22 of Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe {SEC(2008)2132}
Date: 2008-06-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, air quality, disclosure of information, pollution control, pollution control measures, reduction of gas emissions

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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 26.6.2008 
COM(2008) 403 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 

on notifications of postponements of attainment deadlines and exemptions from the 
obligation to apply certain limit values pursuant to Article 22 of Directive 2008/50/EC on 
ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe 

{SEC(2008)2132} 

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COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 

on notifications of postponements of attainment deadlines and exemptions from the 
obligation to apply certain limit values pursuant to Article 22 of Directive 2008/50/EC on 
ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe 

1. 

1. 

2. 

2. 

3. 

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3 

4 

INTRODUCTION 

Article 22 of Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 
21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe1, hereinafter referred 
to  as  “the  new  Directive”,  gives  Member  States  the  possibility  of  notifying  the 
Commission  that,  subject  to  the  Commission's  assessment,  they  intend  to  postpone 
the  deadline  for  attaining  compliance  with  the  limit  values  for  nitrogen  dioxide  or 
benzene  in  zones  or  agglomerations  where  those  limit  values  cannot  be  complied 
with by 1 January 2010, or that they meet the conditions for being exempt from the 
obligation to apply the limit values for particulate matter (PM10). If the Commission 
considers that the conditions for a postponement or an exemption have not been met, 
it  may  raise  objections  within  nine  months  of  receipt  of  the  notification.  Member 
States bear the burden of proof that those conditions are fulfilled and must therefore 
provide the Commission with all the relevant information that it needs to carry out its 
assessment. 

The  purpose  of  this  Communication  is  to  facilitate  preparation,  submission  and 
the  Commission’s 
accurate  assessment  of 
interpretation  of  the  conditions  laid  down  in  Article  22  and  providing  guidance  to 
Member States on the information to be provided and the format to be used.  

the  notifications,  by 

indicating 

BACKGROUND 

A majority of Member States have not yet attained the limit values for PM10 despite 
the fact that they became mandatory already on 1 January 20052. Estimates suggest 
that  concentrations  in  more  than  40%  of  the  zones  and  agglomerations  in  the 
Community currently exceed the daily PM10 limit value of 50 µg/m3 on more than 35 
days per calendar year. In over 15% of those, concentrations also exceed the annual 
PM10 limit value of 40 µg/m3. Current assessments, trends and modelling projections 
indicate that a similar situation may arise in 2010, when the limit values for nitrogen 
dioxide become mandatory3. As regards benzene, for which the limit values will also 
become mandatory in 20104, projections indicate that the problem is less severe.  

OJ L 152, 11.6.2008, p. 1. 
Directive 1999/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council 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, p. 4) 
Directive  2000/69/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  relating  to  limit  values  for 
benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air (OJ L 313, 13.12.2000, p. 12). 
Idem 

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4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

3. 

8. 

While  deficiencies  in  implementation  of  the  air  quality  directives  have  been 
identified and discussed with Member States, the scale of the problem indicates that 
factors beyond the direct or immediate control of Member States may be part of the 
reason  for  the  non-compliance.  Adoption  and  implementation  of  Community 
measures  addressing  emissions  at  source,  such  as  progressive  implementation  of 
more stringent emission standards for new vehicles, are contributing to improving air 
quality  both  today  and  in  the  future.  However,  the  Community  measures  cannot 
ensure  adequate  or  timely  compliance  with  the  limit  values  throughout  the  EU  on 
their  own.  In  most  cases,  further  action  is  required  at  national,  regional  and  local 
levels too, in particular in urban areas where human exposure is highest.  

It  is  important  to  ensure  equal  treatment  when  it  comes  to  implementation  of 
Community  legislation.  Zones  where  significant  efforts  have  been  made  to  comply 
with  the  limit  values  by  the  date  set  for  attaining  them  should  not  be  put  at  a 
competitive  disadvantage  against  zones  where,  though  needed,  no  such  effort  has 
been made. 

The Commission will thoroughly assess each notification against the conditions laid 
down in Article 22 and raise objections if those conditions are not met. Most of the 
information  required  for  assessing  the  notifications  will  come  from  the  air  quality 
plans to be submitted with the notification.  

A  well-established  practice  for  providing  the  minimum  information  required  in  the 
air  quality  plans  is  defined  by  Commission  Decision  2004/224/EC  of  24  February 
2004  laying  down  arrangements  for  the  submission  of  information  on  plans  or 
programmes  required  under  Council  Directive  96/62/EC  in  relation  to  limit  values 
for  certain  pollutants  in  ambient  air5.  Considering  the  large  amount  of  information 
that will have to be processed for the purpose of the notifications, a common format 
will be an important means of ensuring efficient and equal treatment when assessing 
the notifications, and Member States are therefore strongly recommended to use the 
forms  set  out  in  Staff  Working  Paper  (SEC(…)  …)  when  submitting  their 
notifications. Those forms are based on Decision 2004/224/EC and deviate from that 
Decision only in so far as necessary to ensure that the essential information relating 
to  the  specific  conditions  for  the  postponements  or  exemptions  is  covered.  In 
completing  the  forms,  only  information  that  should  reasonably  be  available  for  the 
purposes  of  the  air  quality  plan  or  as  elements  supporting  the  fulfilment  of  the 
conditions  in  the  specific  cases  needs  to  be  entered.  The  intention  is  not  to  require 
Member  States  to  develop  new  data,  for  instance  through  modelling.  References  to 
the specific forms are set out in this guidance in order to specify the link between the 
information required and the conditions. 

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE 

The  initial  notifications  are  expected  principally  to  concern  PM10,  for  which  the 
potential  extensions  will  end  three  years  after  the  entry  into  force  of  the  Directive, 
i.e. on 11 June 2011. In view of the existing levels of non-compliance with the limit 
values for PM10, it is important to submit notifications as soon as possible after the 

5 

OJ L 68, 6.3.2004, p. 27. 

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9. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

Directive  enters  into  force  for  zones  and  agglomerations  where  Member  States 
consider  that  the  conditions  are  met.  When  preparing  the  notifications,  care  must, 
however, be taken to ensure that the data necessary to demonstrate compliance with 
the conditions are complete.  

As regards nitrogen dioxide and benzene, the limit values may not be exceeded from 
1 January 2010 at the latest. Where the conditions are met, the deadline for achieving 
compliance  may  be  postponed  until  such  time  as  is  necessary  for  achieving 
compliance  with  the  limit  values,  but  at  maximum  until  2015.  The  aim  must  be  to 
keep  the  postponement  period  as  short  as  possible.  If  an  exceedance  of  the  limit 
values for nitrogen dioxide or benzene occurs for the first time only in 2011 or later, 
postponing  the  deadline  is  no  longer  possible.  In  those  cases,  the  second 
subparagraph of Article 23(1) of the new Directive will apply. 

Postponement  or  exemption  decisions  will  apply 
individual  zones  or 
agglomerations.  The  notifications  must,  however,  be  officially  submitted  to  the 
Commission by the Permanent Representation of the Member State in question6, i.e. 
not directly by the regional or local authorities concerned.  

to 

The  notification  to  the  Commission  of  an  exemption  or  a  postponement  and  the 
subsequent  assessment  by  the  Commission  of  such  notification  are  not  subject  to 
Article 22 of Directive 2008/50/EC first being transposed into national law.  

The  Commission  will  have  nine  months  to  assess  the  notifications,  starting  on  the 
day  following  official  registration  by  the  Commission  of  an  official  and  complete 
notification. A letter confirming official registration of the initial notification will be 
sent to the Member State concerned. Where necessary, a letter will be sent specifying 
any information which the Commission considers to be missing and which therefore 
still needs to be submitted within a specified deadline. The assessment period will in 
that case start to run on the day following official registration by the Commission of 
the requested information completing the notification. If the requested information is 
not  submitted  by  the  deadline  set,  the  Commission  reserves  the  right  to  raise 
objections  against  the  aspects of  the  notification  not  sufficiently  substantiated,  and, 
for  reasons  of  legal  certainty,  in  any  case  within  nine  months  as  of  the  official 
registration of the initial notification. The Commission may also adopt a decision in 
cases where no objections are raised. 

13. 

A single notification may be submitted for several zones and for several pollutants. 
However,  each  zone  and  pollutant  will  be  assessed  individually.  It  is  therefore 
important  that  the  information  provided  by  the  Member  State  is  unambiguously 
linked to the zone and the pollutant concerned. The same is also true in cases where a 
single  measure  taken  at  national  level  might  address  several  zones  and  influence 
concentrations of several pollutants.  

6 

The  notification  must  be  marked  “Air  quality  time  extension  –  Directive  2008/50/EC”  and  must,  in 
Secretariat-
order to be valid as an official notification, be addressed to:  European 
General, 1049 Brussels. In addition, an electronic copy of the notification should be sent by e-mail to 
the mailbox: ENV-AIRQUALITYTIMEEXTENSION@ec.europa.eu 

Commission, 

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4. 

CONDITIONS AND INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS FOR AN EXTENSION 

4.1. 

Reference year 

14. 

15. 

As  regards  notifications  concerning  PM10,  it  is  in  principle  appropriate  to  take  the 
first  year  of  exceedance,  i.e.  2005,  as  the  reference  year  for  assessing  whether  the 
conditions are fulfilled. If considered more appropriate, a later year (e.g. 2007) can 
be taken as the reference year from which projections are made to demonstrate that 
compliance will be achieved by June 2011. The same year must then also be taken as 
the reference year in the attached air quality plan. However, to demonstrate that all 
appropriate measures were taken to achieve compliance by the initial deadline, it is 
essential to use only data relevant to explaining the exceedance in 2005.  

For notifications concerning nitrogen dioxide or benzene submitted before the initial 
deadline  for  attainment  (2010),  2008  will  be  considered  the  reference  year.  For 
notifications  submitted  after  the  initial  deadline  for  attainment,  Member  States 
should use 2010 as the reference year. 

4.2. 

Source apportionment 

16. 

17. 

18. 

Member  States  must  provide  information  on  the  origin  of  pollution  contributing  to 
the  exceedance.  A  quantitative  source  apportionment  for  the  exceedance  situation 
(i.e.  exceedance  of  daily  or  annual  limit  value)  in  the  reference  year  is  therefore 
required for each notified zone or agglomeration. The Commission is aware that the 
level of detail available may differ between individual zones and Member States, but 
as  source  apportionment  is  a  key  consideration,  both  for  determining  the  type  and 
target level of pollution abatement measures and for the Commission’s assessment of 
the  conditions  for  the  postponements  or  exemptions,  estimates  of  the  contribution 
made by individual sources to the exceedance are essential. 

The  source  apportionment  must,  in  particular,  reflect  regional,  urban  and  local 
contributions  within  the  Member  State,  but  also  transboundary  contributions.  As 
regards  the  urban  and  local  contributions,  a  further  split  must  be  given  in  order  to 
identify  any  significant  sources  such  as  transport  (road  traffic  and  shipping,  where 
relevant),  industry  (including  heat  and  power  production),  agriculture,  commercial 
and residential sources. For PM10, it is also important to indicate significant natural 
sources7. 

Member States may choose whether to use nitrogen dioxide or oxides of nitrogen as 
a  basis  for  source  apportionment,  as  considered  appropriate  in  relation  to  the 
exceedance,  provided  the  choice  is  followed  consistently  and  reflected  in  the 
quantification of the impact of individual or groups of measures, allowing adequate 
assessment of the conditions by the Commission. 

4.3. 

Compliance during the extension 

19. 

In  accordance  with  Article  22(3)  of  the  new  Directive,  compliance  with  the  limit 
values  in  the  zones  and  agglomerations  to  which  a  postponement  or  exemption 

7 

See Form 3A in SEC (..) … 

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decision  applies  will  be  assessed  in  relation  to  the  limit  values  plus  the  maximum 
margin of tolerance set in Annex XI during the extension.  

20. 

For 2011, compliance with the annual limit values for PM10 will be assessed against 
the limit value plus the margin of tolerance for the whole calendar year. As regards 
the daily limit values, compliance for 2011 will be assessed on a daily basis. More 
precisely,  the  total  number  of  exceedances,  whether  of  the  limit  value  plus  the 
margin of tolerance or of the limit value alone, may not exceed the 35 days permitted 
for that calendar year. 

4.4. 

First condition – measures to achieve compliance by the initial attainment date  

21. 

22. 

Article 22(1) of the new Directive provides that the deadlines for attainment of the 
limit  values  for  nitrogen  dioxide  and  benzene  may  be  postponed  where  conformity 
with the limit values cannot be achieved by the attainment date, i.e. 1 January 2010. 
In order to determine whether compliance cannot be achieved by that date, Member 
States are requested to indicate the measures taken before 2010 in accordance with 
Article 4(1) of Directive 1999/30/EC and Article 3(1) of Directive 2000/69/EC and 
explain the reasons why those measures do not bring about compliance8. It follows 
from  the  objectives  of  the  air  quality  legislation  in  general  that  appropriate  action 
must  be  taken  in  the  period  preceding  the  date  on  which  the  limit  values  become 
mandatory.  Only  if  it  can  be  shown  that  efforts  have  been  made  to  achieve 
compliance,  Member  States  can  claim,  in  accordance  with  Article  22(1),  that 
conformity with the limit values cannot be achieved by the deadlines. 

For  PM10,  Member  States  must,  according  to  Article  22(2),  demonstrate  that  all 
appropriate measures have been taken at national, regional and local level to achieve 
compliance  with  the  limit  values  by  the  initial  deadline  set  for  attainment,  i.e.  1 
January 2005. Information must therefore be given of the measures taken with a view 
to  achieving  compliance  by  that  date8.  To  enable  the  Commission  to  determine 
whether those measures were appropriate, Member States must identify the pollution 
sources that those measures were intended to address and explain the extent to which 
those  measures  actually  contributed  to  reducing  concentrations.  Explanations  must 
be given of any remaining exceedance of the limit values9. Those explanations must 
include  information  on  whether  the  exceedance  can  be  attributed  to  any  of  the 
specific  conditions  for  the  exemption,  i.e.  site-specific  dispersion  characteristics, 
adverse climatic conditions or transboundary contributions.  

23. 

In its assessment, the Commission will also take into account the impact of correct 
transposition  and  implementation  of  the  Directives  listed  in  Section  2  of  Part  B  of 
Annex XV10 and of timely availability of the plan or programme in accordance with 
Article  8(3)  of  Council  Directive  96/62/EC  on  ambient  air  quality  assessment  and 
management11.  

8 

9 
10 
11 

See Form 5A, including the Annex, and Form 7, including Annex A; for PM10 see also Form 10, and 
for nitrogen dioxide and benzene notified before 2010, see Form 4A. 
See Form 3B and 4A (as appropriate). 
See Form 8 and, as appropriate, the Annex to Form 8 and Form 9. 
OJ L 296, 21.11.1996, p. 55. 

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4.5. 

Second condition – measures to achieve compliance before the new deadline 

24. 

25. 

26. 

27. 

Member States must provide realistic and reliable predictions of how concentrations 
are likely to decline with a view to achieving compliance with the limit values before 
the new deadline. Those predictions should also indicate that exceedances during the 
extension will remain below the limit value plus the maximum margin of tolerance 
provided for in Annex XI to the Directive. 

The  predictions  must  be  based  on  a  comparison  between  the  limit  values  to  be 
achieved  and  projected  baseline  levels  for  the  exceedance  situation  in  a  zone  or 
agglomeration.  The baseline must indicate the  estimated  concentrations  by the new 
deadline  if  no  additional  abatement  measures  are  taken,  apart  from  those  taken  to 
achieve compliance by the initial deadline and the existing and planned Community 
measures. The gap between the applicable limit value and the baseline will serve as 
an indicator for the expected impact and timing of the additional measures required 
in order to close that gap by the new deadline12. 

When  identifying  the  measures  required,  consideration  must  be  given  to  the 
measures listed in Section 3 of Part B of Annex XV as provided for in the Directive. 
If any of those measures are not to be implemented, even though they are relevant to 
the sources identified, a due justification must be given13. 

When assessing the predictions, account will also be taken of the potential impact, in 
the  zone  concerned,  of  existing  and  planned  Community  measures,  and  Member 
States are asked to include their estimate of that impact in the baseline. The planned 
Community  measures  are  those  indicated  in  the  Declaration  by  the  Commission 
published  together  with  the  Directive.  The  Commission  intends  to  assess  the 
quantification provided by the Member States and, where necessary, the underlying 
assumptions, and to carry out its own assessment of this criterion on that  basis.  As 
regards  the  existing  measures,  the  assessment  will  focus  on  the  status  of 
implementation of the Directives listed in Part B of Annex XV14. 

4.6. 

Specific  condition  for  PM10:  site-specific  dispersion  characteristics,  adverse 
climatic conditions or transboundary contributions 

4.6.1 Site-specific dispersion characteristics 

28. 

Site-specific  dispersion  characteristics  are  factors  affecting  pollutant  dispersion  on 
local  scale,  principally  at  street  level.  Local  buildings  or  small-scale  topographical 
structures  result  in  locally  emitted  pollutants  accumulating  in  a  limited  area,  which 
causes  high  concentrations.  Such  areas  can  normally  be  found  in  so-called  “street 
canyons”. Site-specific dispersion characteristics may be claimed only where it can 
be  demonstrated  that  the  exceedance  occurs  locally  in  such  specific  areas  and  not 
elsewhere, such as in the urban background or along less densely built-up streets in 
the same air quality zone or agglomeration. 

12 
13 
14 

See Form 4B and Form 5B, including the Annex. 
See Form 6. 
See Form 9. 

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29. 

In  areas  where  there  are  situations  such  as  the  following,  site  specific  dispersion 
characteristics are considered to be present: 

(a) 

continuous multi-storey buildings along both sides of the street; 

(b) 

the average height of the buildings over a length of at least 100 metres must be 
greater than the total width of the street divided by 1.515. 

30. 

31. 

To  demonstrate  that  the  exceedance  is  restricted  to  an  area  in  which  site-specifc 
dispersion characteristics are present, data from appropriate urban traffic monitoring 
stations outside that area must be used or, where appropriate, results from small-scale 
dispersion  modelling16.  A  map  of  the  zone,  indicating  the  different  measuring 
stations and the area of exceedance, should, where available, also be supplied17.  

If other indicators are used to demonstrate that the exceedance is restricted to an area 
in  which  site-specific  dispersion  characteristics  are  present,  reasons  must  be  given 
and  it  must  be  demonstrated  that  the  use  of  those  indicators  produces  equivalent 
results. 

4.6.2 

Adverse climatic conditions 

32. 

33. 

Adverse  climatic  conditions  are  considered 
long-term 
meteorological conditions and the topographical conditions affect dilution of locally 
emitted pollutants, thereby causing high concentrations.  

to  exist  when 

the 

In areas where the presence of factors such as the following can be shown, adverse 
climatic conditions are considered to be present: 

(a) 

the local to regional topography, i.e. locations in valleys or where surrounded 
by high mountains; 

(b)  poor dilution of locally emitted pollutants due to low wind speeds; 

(c) 

(d) 

vertical mixing, i.e. dilution, triggered by meteorological parameters related to 
mechanical and thermal turbulence of the atmosphere; 

air  masses  of  oceanic  versus  continental  origin;  continental  air  masses  are 
usually linked to adverse dispersion characteristics (temperature inversion and 
low wind speed). 

34. 

General climatic conditions, such as temperature, precipitation or snowfall, which do 
not directly influence pollutant dispersion but may induce specific human activities 
and  thereby  influence  the  level  of  emissions,  such  as  domestic  heating,  power 
generation for heating or air conditioning, or use of studded tyres, are not considered 
adverse climatic conditions for the purposes of the new Directive. 

15 

16 
17 

Meta-data  management  and  transmission  in  accordance  with  Decision  97/101/EC  on  the  exchange  of 
information. 
See f Form 10. 
See Annex to Form 2. 

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35. 

36. 

Accumulation  of  pollution  in  areas  affected  by  adverse  climatic  conditions  usually 
occurs  during  calms.  An  indication  of  low  annual  average  wind  speed,  below  1.5 
m/s,  in  such  areas  is  therefore  appropriate  for  demonstrating  that  this  condition  is 
met.  Other  indicators  than  average  wind  speed  may  also  be  used  provided  that  a 
justification is given.  

In order to claim adverse climatic conditions, Member States must demonstrate that 
the daily limit values are exceeded principally when the adverse climatic conditions 
described occur. Such a correlation can be demonstrated by the PM10 concentrations 
and  average  wind  speeds  measured  on  days  when  the  limit  value  was  exceeded,  at 
least for the reference year18. 

4.6.3 

Transboundary contributions 

37. 

38. 

39. 

40. 

41. 

Transboundary  contributions  occur  where  the  meteorological  and  topographical 
conditions  permit  the  transport  of  anthropogenic  pollution  originating  outside  the 
Member  State,  thereby  causing  high  concentrations.  Such  contributions  may 
originate  either  in  close  proximity  to  zones  and  agglomerations  close  to  a  national 
border  (short-range  transboundary  pollution)  or  at  longer  distances  of  some  100 
kilometres or more (long-range transboundary pollution).  

Long-range  transboundary  pollution  occurs  mainly  in  flatlands  or  non-mountainous 
terrain often subject to accumulation of pollutants advected in continental air masses. 
High  concentrations  in  basins  or  valleys  or  leeward  of  mountains  are  generally  not 
affected by such contributions. 

Pollution  can  originate  from  a  single  source  across  the  border,  from  one  or  more 
Member States together, from shipping or from sources outside the Community. 

Member  States  claiming  a  transboundary  contribution  must  indicate  whether 
consultations  have  been  held  with  the  Member  State  in  which  the  pollution 
originates, in accordance with Article 8(6) of Directive 96/62/EC (Article 25 of the 
new  Directive).  If  no  such  consultations  have  taken  place,  despite  the  origin  of  the 
pollution being known, the Member State concerned may be considered not to have 
taken  all  appropriate  measures  to  meet  the  original  deadline.  If  the  pollution 
originates in several Member States or in third countries and it is clear that effective 
solutions could not be found by bilateral consultations, the Member State’s right to 
an extension will not be affected by the lack of consultations19. 

Transboundary  contributions  can  be  assessed  either  by  measurements  or  by 
modelling. Such assessments must, where appropriate, be supplemented by backward 
trajectory  analysis  and  source  apportionment  of  individual  exceedances.  Methods 
such  as  the  following  have  proven  efficient  in  demonstrating  transboundary 
contributions: 

(a) 

atmospheric  dispersion  modelling  with  appropriate  spatial  and  daily  temporal 
resolution; 

18 
19 

See Form 10. 
See Form 10. 

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42. 

43. 

5. 

44. 

(b) 

analysis of daily measurement data, identifying transboundary contributions by 
means  of  measurements  from  representative  monitoring  sites,  e.g.  rural 
background  sites  located  upwind  in  the  area  surrounding  the  zone  or 
agglomeration in which the exceedance has been observed;  

(c)  EMEP model20. 

In order to claim transboundary contributions as a cause for the exceedance it must 
be  demonstrated  that,  in  cases  where  the  annual  limit  value  is  exceeded,  once  the 
transboundary contribution is subtracted, the annual average concentration is below 
the  limit  value.  If  the  daily  limit  value  is  exceeded,  it  must  be  demonstrated  that, 
once the transboundary contribution on specific days is subtracted, the daily average 
concentrations remain below the limit value21. 

If  other  indicators  are  used  to  demonstrate  that  transboundary  contributions  are  the 
cause of the exceedance, reasons must be given and it must be demonstrated that use 
of those indicators produces equivalent results. 

Air quality plan and additional information requirements 

Notifications  must  be  accompanied  by  an  air  quality  plan  for  the  zone  or 
agglomeration concerned. The plan must comply with the requirements laid down in 
Article  23  and  in  Part  A  of  Annex  XV  to  the  new  Directive.  The  information 
requested under the new Directive is largely similar to that requested under Directive 
96/62/EC.  As  a  consequence,  Member  States  which  already  have  a  plan  or 
programme in place can use it for the purposes of the notification, provided it meets 
the  criteria  laid  down  in  Part  A  of  Annex  XV  to  the  new  Directive  and  is 
appropriately  updated  to  ensure  that  conformity  will  be  achieved  with  the  limit 
values before the new deadline.  

20 

21 

Model  developed  by  the  Cooperative  Programme  for  Monitoring  and  Evaluation  of  the  Long-range 
Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP). 
See Forms 3A and 10. 

EN 

10 

   EN