The European Commission has sent Romania an additional opinion concerning the high daily and yearly concentration of airborne particles (PM10), prompting the Environment Ministry to call for a videoconference with county prefects to discuss the issue.

"In Romania, 17 areas have been found to exceed PM10 limits. Romania applied for an exemption in 2010 for 11 of these 17 areas, and the Commission sent a reasoned opinion concerning the six areas not covered by the application for an exemption. After considering the exemption request, the Commission has concluded that the necessary conditions have not been met, and so a reasoned opinion is being sent to Romania for nine additional areas (the situation having improved in two of the regions concerned in the meantime)," the EC said in a press release on Wednesday.

"Romania has two months to reply. A failure to improve the situation could result in a summons before the EU Court of Justice," said the EC.

Mediafax