Commission adopts Ambient Air Quality Directive recast proposal (GEN -1444.00)

29 November 2022

GEN – 1444.00. On 26 October 2022, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a recast Ambient Air Quality Directive. The Impact Assessment contains some hopeful notes for a future policy response from the EU on Indoor Air Quality as well.

Ambient Air Quality (AAQ) recast proposal

The proposal would merge the current AAQ Directives into one single Directive, and sets interim 2030 EU air quality standards, aligned more closely with World Health Organization guidelines. The proposal reassesses EU air quality standards to bring them in line with latest scientific evidence as well as societal and technological developments. The annual limit value for the main pollutant – fine particulate matter (PM2.5) – is proposed to be cut by more than half.

The revision also introduces the right of people suffering health damages from air pollution to be compensated in the case of a violation of EU air quality rules. They will also have the right to be represented by non-governmental organisation through collective actions for damage compensation. The proposal also brings more clarity on access to justice, effective penalties, and better public information on air quality. New legislation will support local authorities by strengthening the provisions on air quality monitoring, modelling, and improved air quality plans.

Perspective on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

In the Impact Assessment, the European Commission elaborates on the IAQ perspective. It recalls that it received feedback during the consultations on the need to improve IAQ as well. The option to expand the scope of the AAQ Directives to include IAQ was discarded. Although action on AAQ will bring co-benefits for IAQ, the Commission recognises that IAQ is affected by indoor pollutant sources and that consequently a bespoke policy response would be required. The Commission recalls it has agreed to ‘assess pathways and policy options to improve indoor air quality, and propose legislative measure as relevant’ as from 2023 in its Zero Pollution Action Plan.

Next steps in the legislative process

The Commission proposal is open for feedback until 20 January 2023. All feedback received will be summarised by the European Commission and presented to the European Parliament and Council with the aim of feeding into the legislative debate.

Eurovent positions and future actions

Eurovent has advocated consistently for a policy response from the EU on IAQ. Besides advocacy on the EPBD, Eurovent has also used the development of the AAQ Directives and EU Zero Pollution Action Plan as hooks to emphasise to the Commission the need to act on IAQ (see in the documents attached for the relevant Position Papers). Eurovent will consider responding to the Commission AAQ Directive proposal and will follow up on the Commission’s commitment to assess pathways and policy options to improve indoor air quality from 2023. Members are encouraged to share any questions, remarks, comments, and feedback with the Secretariat.