97/101/EC: Council Decision 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

COUNCIL DECISION 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 (97/101/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular Article 130s (1), thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189c of the Treaty (3),
(1) Whereas the fifth European Community action programme on the environment (4) provides for the collection of baseline data on the environment and an improvement in their compatibility, comparability and transparency;
(2) Whereas the objectives and tasks of the European Environment Agency are set out in Council Regulation (EEC) No 1210/90 of 7 May 1990 on the establishment of the European Environment Agency and the European Environment Information and Observation Network (5);
(3) Whereas it is necessary to establish a procedure for the exchange of information on air quality in order to help combat pollution and nuisance, with a view to improving the quality of life and environment throughout the Community, through monitoring long-term trends and improvements resulting from national and Community legislation to combat air pollution;
(4) Whereas duplication in transferring information should be avoided, in particular as regards information to be transmitted to the European Environment Agency and the Commission;
(5) Whereas experience built up as the result of exchanges of information pursuant to Council Decision 75/441/EEC of 24 June 1975 establishing a common procedure for the exchange of information between the surveillance and monitoring networks based on data relating to atmospheric pollution caused by certain compounds and suspended particulates (6) and by 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 (7) makes it possible to establish a more complete and representative exchange of information by increasing the number of pollutants considered and by including networks and individual stations measuring ambient air pollution;
(6) Whereas a distinction should be made between information that must always be transmitted, in particular relating to Council Directive 96/62/EC of 27 September 1996 on ambient air quality assessment and management (8) (hereinafter referred to as 'the Directive on air quality`), and information that must be submitted where it is available;
(7) Whereas the information collected needs to be sufficiently representative to enable pollution levels to be mapped throughout the Community;
(8) Whereas using common criteria for validating and processing the measurement results will increase the compatibility and comparability of the data transmitted,