EU sues six member states over air quality

France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania and Britain referred to Court of Justice

The European Union is taking six member states to court for exposing their citizens to too much air pollution.

The European Commission yesterday referred France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania and Britain to the EU’s highest Court of Justice, saying they failed to respect air quality limits and did not take appropriate action in time.

The Commission also warned Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Britain for disregarding car approval rules.

Bas Eickhout of the Greens/ EFA group in the European parliament said that “it is shameful that some of Europe’s wealthiest countries are dragging their heels on protecting their citizens’ health.”

The European Commission said the countries failed to respect limit values for nitrogen oxide — which is mostly a result of road traffic and industry — and particulate matter, which is mainly present in emissions from industry, domestic heating, traffic and agriculture. The EU also sent out warning letters as a result of a probe started in the wake of Volkswagen AG’s dieselgate scandal, concerning the so-called type approvals for cars.

The move ratchets up tensions between the commission and EU member nations about how to tackle emissions damaging both human health and the planet’s atmosphere.

It is shameful that some of Europe’s wealthiest countries are dragging their heels on protecting their citizens’ health.” Bas Eickhout | of Greens/EFA group, European parliament