Press Release: Air pollution: Commission takes legal action against 10 Member States

The European Commission has sent France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Portugal and Sweden a second written warning for failing to comply with an EU law aimed at promoting the use of low sulphur petrol and diesel fuels. This law seeks to reduce the amount of sulphur in fuels to 10 mg/kg. It thereby contributes to reducing emissions from motor vehicles, which adversely affect human health and the environment. National laws should have been in place 30 June 2003. None of the Member States in question has met this deadline. The Commission has also sent first written warnings to the UK, Luxembourg and Belgium for infringing an EU law aimed at protecting the ozone layer, which shields human beings from harmful solar radiation. Reports submitted by the UK, Luxembourg and Belgium show that these three Member States are failing to meet certain detailed requirements aimed at curbing the use and emission of ozone-depleting chemicals.