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Adopted text

Ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe

TA-9-2023-0318 · P9_TA(2023)0318 · PE742.410

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 26 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's amended version of the proposed directive on ambient air quality sets a zero pollution objective for air quality to be achieved by 2050 at the latest. It sets intermediate limit values to be met by 2030 and limit values to be met by 2035, plus target values, average exposure reduction obligations, average exposure concentration objectives, critical levels, information thresholds and alert thresholds. It requires Member States to establish air quality roadmaps ahead of the 2030 deadline and air quality plans where limit values, ozone target values or average exposure reduction obligations are exceeded. It requires monitoring of pollutants including ultrafine particles, black carbon, ammonia and mercury, and monitoring supersites at urban background locations. It gives the public access to air quality information, an air quality index, access to justice and the right to claim compensation for damage to human health caused by violations. It requires the Commission to review the scientific evidence by 31 December 2028 and every 5 years thereafter, and to propose limit values for pollutants currently not covered.

Key points

  1. The directive sets a zero pollution objective so that air quality is progressively improved to levels no longer considered harmful to human health, natural ecosystems and biodiversity by 2050 at the latest.
  2. It sets intermediate limit values to be met by 2030 and limit values to be met by 2035, plus target values, average exposure reduction obligations, average exposure concentration objectives, critical levels, information thresholds and alert thresholds.
  3. Member States must establish air quality roadmaps for zones where concentrations exceed the 2030 limit values, and air quality plans where limit values, ozone target values or average exposure reduction obligations are exceeded.
  4. Air quality plans must set out measures to achieve the limit value and keep the exceedance period as short as possible, and in any case no longer than 3 years from the end of the calendar year in which the first exceedance was recorded.
  5. Member States must monitor ultrafine particles, black carbon, ammonia and mercury, and establish at least one monitoring supersite per 2 million inhabitants at an urban background location.
  6. Sampling points must be representative of the exposure of at-risk communities and of sensitive population and vulnerable groups, and must be installed in air pollution hotspots such as ports and airports.
  7. The Commission must review the scientific evidence related to air pollutants by 31 December 2028 and every 5 years thereafter, and in the first review propose limit values, target values or critical levels for pollutants measured by monitoring supersites but not yet covered.
  8. Member States must establish an air quality index covering sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter and ozone, made available through a public source providing an hourly update.
  9. Members of the public concerned must have access to a review procedure before a court to challenge decisions, acts or omissions concerning air quality plans, roadmaps and short-term action plans.
  10. Natural persons who suffer damage to human health caused by a violation of the directive are entitled to compensation, with a rebuttable presumption of causal link where supported by relevant scientific data.
  11. Member States must ensure that limitation periods for bringing compensation actions are not less than 10 years.
  12. The Commission must adopt delegated acts specifying how the air quality index is calculated and presented, and laying down common criteria for determining the amount of penalties.

Who is affected

  • Member States, which must monitor air quality, establish roadmaps and plans, and report exceedances.
  • Sensitive population and vulnerable groups, who must be informed and protected, and whose exposure sampling points must represent.
  • The Commission, which must review scientific evidence, propose new limit values and adopt delegated acts.
  • Competent authorities, which must ensure accuracy of measurements and modelling, and provide public information.
  • The public, which must have access to air quality information, an air quality index, access to justice and compensation.

Figures and deadlines

  • Zero pollution objective to be achieved at the latest by 2050.
  • Intermediate limit values to be met by 2030 and limit values to be met by 2035.
  • First review of scientific evidence by 31 December 2028, and every 5 years thereafter.
  • Air quality plans must keep exceedance period no longer than 3 years from the end of the calendar year in which the first exceedance was recorded.
  • At least one monitoring supersite per 2 million inhabitants at an urban background location.
  • Limitation periods for bringing compensation actions not less than 10 years.
  • Air quality index must provide an hourly update.
  • Commission must adopt delegated acts within 12 months after entry into force specifying the air quality index, and within 6 months laying down common criteria for penalties.