Air quality: Commission calls on Ireland to correctly transpose EU air quality rules

The European Green Deal, with its Zero Pollution ambition, puts emphasis on cutting air pollution, which is among the key factors affecting human health. Full implementation of the air quality standards enshrined in EU legislation is key to effectively protect human health and safeguard the natural environment.

Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, as amended by Commission Directive (EU) 2015/1480, lays down measures aimed at defining and establishing objectives for ambient air quality. These include assessing the ambient air quality in Member States, obtaining information on ambient air quality, ensuring that the information on ambient air quality is made available to the public, maintaining and improving air quality, as well as promoting increased cooperation between the Member States in reducing air pollution.

Finland and Ireland have not correctly transposed certain requirements of the Air Quality Directive, for instance with regards to sampling points, data quality objectives, and providing public information.

The Commission is therefore sending letters of formal notice to Finland and Ireland, which now have two months to respond and address the shortcomings raised by the Commission. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion.