The European Commission will take legal action to tackle consistently low air quality in Member States. Many countries, including Romania, are causing the Commission concern over consistently poor air quality. The main problem is from tiny particles of pollution known as PM10s, “which can cause respiratory problems, lung cancer and premature death,” according to the EC.

The EC has demanded that Bulgaria, Latvia and Slovenia take urgent action, reporting that air pollution is killing more people than road traffic accidents in the three countries. Romania is part of the larger group of countries that are also causing worries over regular and ongoing failures to meet air quality standards. The other Member States mentioned with air quality issues are Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, Portugal, Poland, Sweden, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The EC suggests that previous legal action against EU countries that fail to meet European air quality standards have in effect punished transgressions without fostering long term improvements. In response, the EC has announced a “fresh approach,” enlarging the scope of legal action and encouraging countries to take longer term view.

The EC announcement follows a recent report that surveyed people across the EU on perceptions of air quality. The report found that 74 percent of Romanians and 56 percent of EU citizens believe air quality has got worse in the last ten years.

EU study: 74% of Romanians think air quality has worsened in last 10 years, EU and government should do more

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com