Press Release: Environment: Europeans call for stronger EU air quality policy

According to the latest research, a majority (56%) of Europeans believe that air quality has deteriorated in the last 10 years. In Italy, as many as 81% hold this view, and in Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Romania and Spain, 70-75% of survey participants believe that this is the case. The research shows strong support for further action at EU level.

Almost four out of five participants (79%) believe that the EU should propose additional measures to address air pollution. The survey specifically asked participants if they were aware of EU air quality standards and national emission ceilings, and out of those who know about these instruments (25% in both cases), more than half (58% and 51%) were of the view that they should be strengthened. The findings will now feed into an on-going review on EU air policy by the Commission which is due for the second half of 2013.

European Commission: Public Opinion: Attitudes of Europeans towards Air Quality http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/flash_arch_360_345_en.htm#360

European Commission: Speech/13/4: Janez Potočnik: Air quality: Meeting the challenge of protecting our health and environment http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-4_en.htm

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