CELEX: 51987PC0067
Language: en
Date: 1987-03-16
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION concerning the conclusion of the Protocol to the 1979 Geneva Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution on the reduction of sulphur emissions (SO2) or their transboundary fluxes by at least 30% (presented by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (87) 67
Vol. 1987/0025
 ---pagebreak--- Disclaimer
Conformément 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) modifié en dernier
lieu par le règlement (UE) 2015/496 du Conseil du 17 mars 2015 (JO L79 du 25. 3.2015, 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 règlement ou sont considérés déclassifiés
conformément aux articles 26(3) et 59(2) de la décision (UE, Euratom) 2015/444 de la
Commission du 13 mars 2015 concernant les règles de sécurité aux fins de la protection des
informations classifiées de l'Union européenne.
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 concerning
the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic Community and the
European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as last amended by Council
Regulation (EU) 2015/496 of 17 March 2015 (OJ L 79, 27.3.2015, p. 1), this file is open to the
public. Where necessary, classified documents in this file have been declassified in conformity
with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation or are considered declassified in conformity with
Articles (26.3) and 59(2) of the Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/444 of 13 March 2015
on the security rules for protecting EU classified information.
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom 1. Februar
1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und
der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI. L 43 vom 15.2.1983, S. 1), zuletzt geändert durch die
Verordnung (EU) Nr. 2015/496 vom 17. März 2015 (ABI. L 79 vom 25.3.2015, S. 1), ist dieser Akt
der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in diesem Akt in
Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5 der genannten Verordnung freigegeben; beziehungsweise werden
sie auf Grundlage von Artikel 26(3) und 59(2) der Entscheidung der Kommission (EU, Euratom)
2015/444    vom   13.   März   2015   über die   Sicherheitsvorschriften für den Schutz von  EU-
Verschlusssachen als herabgestuft angesehen.
 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                              COM(87 ) 67 final
                                              Brussels , 16 March 1987
                                   Proposai for a
                                  COUNCIL DECISION
         concerning the conclusion of the Protocol to the 1979 Geneva
          Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution on the
          reduction of sulphur emissions ( SO ^) or their transboundary
                              fluxes by at least 30%
                         ( presented by the Commission )
C0MC87 )  67 final
 ---pagebreak---                                    EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.   In the course of implementing and further developping           the 1979 Geneva
     Convention on      long-range transboundary air pollution ,        to which the
     Community and all its Member States are Contracting Parties a Protocol
     was adopted on 8 July 1985 in Helsinki .        The Pp'tocol provides for the
     reduction of sulphur emissions ( SO^) or their 1 ransboundary fluxes by
     at  least  30 % .
2.   The essential aim of the Protocol is that ,        as i oon as possible and by
     1993   at   the   latest ,   the    Contracting Parties   should   reduce their
     national annual sulphur emissions or transboundary fluxes by at least
     30 %   from     the 1980   levels .    Sulphur emissions ,   one of the chief
     sources of air pollution ,        have been declared noth by the ECE and by
     the Munich Conference of June 1984 as priority target for reduction .
3.   in view of this objective ,        the Community must forthwith conclude the
     Protocol in view of its responsibilities in the air pollution fields
     covered by the Protocol and the Convention ,          conferred on it by the
                              1     .2
     common rules adopted       and to be adopted    by the Community in order to
     reduce emissions from both mobile and fixed sources of air pollution ,
     including motor vehicles and large combustion plants .
   List appended
   Commission proposais concerning :
   - the limitation of emissions of pollutants into the air from large
     combustion plants : C0M(83 ) 704 of 15 December 1983 , O.J. C 49 ,
     21.02.1984 , p. 1 .
   - amendment of Directive 75 / 716 on the sulphur content of certain liquid
     fuels : C0M(85 ) 377 of 16 July 1985 , O.J. C 105 , 14.08.1985 , p. 3 .
 ---pagebreak--- 4.   Accession   to    the   Helsinki     Protocol ,     which   provides   for  a   30  %
     reduction in total      ( SO^)   emissions ,    would be a first stage ,       to be
     completed by     1993 at     the  latest ,    of   a  Community   action   aimed   at
     further   reductions     in   the  longer   term ,    in  particular    by means of
     provisions concerning large combustion plants .
5.   The Protocol has been open for accession since 13 July 1985 ;                 it has
     been signed by seven Member States ^ and so far ratified by three
                     4
     Member   States .       The     Community   should    deposit   its  instrument    of
     accession   with    the    Secretary-General       of   the  United   Nations ,    in
     accordance with the fourth paragraph of Article 10 of the Protocol , as
     soon as possible ,     and before the fifth meeting of the Executive Body
     set up by the Convention ,         scheduled for 17 to        20 november    1987 in
     Geneva .
J Betgium , Denmark , France , Italy , Luxemburg , Netherlands , Federal
   Republic of Germany
4
   Denmark , France , Netherlands
 ---pagebreak---           PROPOSAL   FOR A COUNCIL DECISION
               CONCERNING THE CONCLUSION
OF THE PROTOCOL TO THE 1979 GENEVA CONVENTION ON
     LONG-RANGE TRANSBOUNDARY     AIR POLLUTION
      ON THE REDUCTION OF    SULPHUR EMISSIONS
       ( S0 2 > OR THEIR TRANSBOUNDARY FLUXES
                    BY AT LEAST 30 %
 ---pagebreak---                                                2
            Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion
                   of the Protocol to the 1979 Geneva Convention on
                         long-range transboundary air pollution
                   on the reduction of sulphur emissions ( SO^) or
                      their transboundary fluxes by at least 30 %
    The Council of the European Communities ,
    Having    regard    to   the   Treaty   establishing  the  European   Economic
    Commun i ty ,
                                                1
    and in particular Article 235 thereof
    Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,
    Having regard to the opinion from the European Parliament ,
    Whereas air pollution has been a constant concern of the first three
    action programmes of the European Communities on the environment since
    1973 ;   whereas it was the subject of the subsequent Declarations and
    Resolutions of the Council and the representatives of the Governments
    of the Member States meeting within the Council of 22 November 1973 ,
    17 May 1977 and 7 February 1983 ^, in which the Council stated its
    intention     to   continue   the  Community   measures  necessary  to  reduce
    emissions of air pollutants ,         in particular sulphur oxides ( SO^) and
   nitrogen oxides ( NCM ;
Article 130S after the entry into force of the Single Act
O.J. No C 112 , 20.12.1973 , p. 1 et seq.
0 . J . No C 139 , 13.06.1977 , p. 1 et seq.
O.J. No C 46 , 17.02.1983 , p. 1 et seq.
 ---pagebreak---                                               3
     Whereas the European      Council meetings        in Stuttgart      in June   1983 and
     Brussels  in    March  1985  reiterated      the    urgent    need   for measures    to
     combat air pollution ;
    Whereas these measures should be supplemented by the adoption of joint
    solutions     to     environmental     problems         together     with    non-member
    countries , notably in the framework of international organizations ;
    Whereas   at   the   international    level     on    11   June   1981   the  Community
    concluded the 1979 Geneva Convention on long-range transboundary air
    pollution ^
    Whereas on 12 June 1986 the Community approved a Protocol to the above
    Convention on      long-term  financing      of   the    cooperative programme      for
    monitoring    and    evaluation   of   the     long-range       transmission    of  air
                                    4
    pollutants in Europe ( EMEP ) ;      whereas the Community 's contribution to
    the compulsory expenditure under the Programme is 3.33 % ;
    Whereas the Community took part in the Conference of Plenipotentiaries
    in Helsinki     in July   1985 which led to the adoption of a Protocol to
    the 1979 Geneva Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution ,
    on the reduction of sulphur emissions or their transboundary fluxes ;
    Whereas the Community has not signed that Protocol ;
    Whereas   it    is   appropriate   that     the    Communities       should   subscribe
    to the commitment provided for in the Helsinki                  Protocol ,   namely to
    reduce total SO ^ emissions by 30 % is a first step while pursuing
    vigorous Community action aimed at further                reductions    in the   longer
    term , in particular by means of provisions concerning large combustion
    plants ;
    Whereas it is necessary that the Community conclude the said Helsinki
    Protocol in view of its responsibilities in the fields covered by the
    Convention and by the Protocol ,         these fields being the subject of a
    range of Community measures'*
  Council Decisión EEC / 81 / 462 of 11 June 1981 , O.J           L 171 , 1981 , p. 11
  Council Decisión EEC / 86 / 277 of 12 June 1986 , O.J           L 181 , p. 1
5
  List appended
 ---pagebreak---                                           4
Whereas the Community must become a Contracting I'arty to the Protocol
in view of the need to apply it       in a consistent manner throughout the
entire    Community     and  to  achieve    the  sulphur   emission   reduction
object i ves ;
Whereas the participation of        the Community    in the  implementation of
the  said      Protocol   is necessary   in   order   to  achieve  one  of  the
Community 's objectives and whereas the powers for this purpose are not
provided for in the Treaty otherwise than under Article 235 ;
Whereas the abovement i oned Protocol has been open for accession by the
States and regional economic integration organizations referred to in
the second paragraph of Article 10 since 13 July 1985 ;
 ---pagebreak---                                     5
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS :
ARTICLE 1
The Protocol to the 1979 Geneva Convention on long-range transboundary
air pollution , on the reduction of sulphur emissions ( SO^) or their
transboundary fluxes by at least 30 % ,  adopted in Helsinki on 8 July
1985 is hereby approved on behalf of the European Economic Community ;
the text of the Protocol is annexed to this Decision .
ARTICLE 2
The President of the Council shall deposit the instrument of accession
with the Secretary-General of the United Nations in accordance with
the fourth paragraph of Article 10 of the Protocol .
Done at Brussels ,
                                For the Council
                                 The President
 ---pagebreak---                                                   - 6 -
                                            ANNEXED LIST
                                           AIR POLLUTION
1.1 .    Council Directive 70 / 220/ EEC of 20 March 1970 on the approximation
         of the laws of the Member States relating to measures to be taken
         against air pollution by gases from positive-ignition engines of
         motor vehicles ; O.J. L 76, 1970 , page 1
         - Directive 74 / 290 / EEC , O.J. L 159 , 1974 , page 61
         - Directive 77 / 102 / EEC , O.J. L 32 , 1977 , page 32
         - Directive 78 / 665 / EEC , O.J. L 223 , 1978 , page 48
         - Directive 83 / 351 / EEC , O.J. L 197 , 1983 , page 1
1.2 .    Council     Directive    75 / 716 / EEC    OF     24   November   1975   on   the
         approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the
         sulphur content of certain liquid fuels ; O.J. L 307 , 1975 , page 22 .
1.3 .    Council Directive 80 / 779 / EEC of 15 July 1980 on air quality limit
         values and guide values for sulphur dioxide and suspended
         parti culates ; O.J. L 229, 1980 , page 30 .
1.4 .    Council Decision 81 / 462 / EEC of 11 June 1981 on the conclusion of the
         Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution ;              O.J.   L 171 ,
         1981 , page 11 .
         Council Decision 86 / 277 / EEC of 12 June 1986 on the conclusion of the
         Protocol on long-term financing of the cooperative programme ; O.J. L
         181 , 1986 , page 1 .
1.5 .    Council    Decision    82 / 459 / EEC   of    24    June  1982   establishing    a
         reciprocal    exchange    of    information       and  data  from networks    and
         individual    stations     measuring      air    pollution   within  the   Member
         States ; O.J. L 210, 1982 , page 1 .
1.6 .    Council Directive 84 / 360/ EEC of 28 June 1984 on the combating of air
         pollution from industrial plants ; O.J. L 188 , 1984 , page 20 .
II . 1 . Council Resolution of 15 July 1980 on transboundary air pollution by
         sulphur dioxide and suspended particulates ; O.J. C 222, 1980 , page 1
 ---pagebreak---                        SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
This proposal for a Decision could have an impact on employment in small
businesses through the structural measures needed to achieve the emission
reduction objectives .
However , this impact is hard to quantify , and an assessment will only be
possible in the light of the implementing measures which the Community and
the Member States will have to adopt , having approved the SO^ Protocol , in
order to comply with it .
 ---pagebreak--- FICHE D' IMPACT SUR LA COMPETITIVITE ET L' EMPLOI
I .     Quelle est la justification principale de la mesure ?
        Réduire les dommages causés par les dépositions acides aux bâtiments
        et aux écosystèmes ( lacs , sols , forets ) en agissant sur les sources
        des émissions SO^ .
II .    Caractéristiques des entreprises concernées . En particuliers :
      - Y a - t - il un grand nombre de PME ?
        Oui , lorsqu' on réglemente les combustibles .
      - note t' on des concentrations dans des régions
        . éligibles aux aides régional des E.M. ?
        . éligibles au Feder ?
        non .
III .   Quelles sont les obligations imposées directement aux entreprises ?
        Aucune directement ; des mesures législatives devront être adoptées par
        les Etats membres .
IV .    Quelles sont les obligations susceptibles d' être imposées indirectemen
        aux entreprises via les autorités locales ?
        On pourrait envisager l' obligation d' utiliser certains combustibles
        seulement ou encore des mesures visant des équipements de contrôle
        des émissions SO^ -
V.      Y a - t - il des mesures spéciales pour les PME ? Lesquelles ?
        Non .
VI .    Quel est l' effet prévisible ?
      - sur la compétitivité des entreprises ?
        dépandra des mesures que les Etats membres appliqueront et de leurs
        moda l ités .
      - sur l ' emploi ?
        dito
 ---pagebreak---                               - 2 -
VII .   Les partenaires sociaux ont -ils été consultés ?
      - avis des partenaires sociaux
        Pas spécifiquement pour cette proposition mais pour la
        proposition C0M(83)704 concernant les grandes installations
        de combustion .
        - en général commentaires positifs ( syndicats , employeurs ).