UK and five other countries referred to EU court for illegal air pollution

The European Commission will be referring the UK, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Romania to the Court of Justice of the EU for failing to adequately address illegal air pollution levels.

This action comes following an Air Quality Ministerial Summit in January, which was a final effort to find solutions to address air pollution.

The Commission said the six Member States in question did not present credible, effective and timely measures to reduce pollution, within the agreed limits and as soon as possible.

The Czech Republic, Slovakia and Spain are also facing infringement proceedings but will be monitored, rather than being referred to the Court of Justice of the EU.

Reacting to the announcement, ClientEarth lawyer Ugo Taddei said: “We are glad that, at last, the Commission is taking serious steps to fight air pollution before the Court of Justice. But it shouldn’t have taken so long. Air pollution requires urgent action and it’s been clear for too many years that authorities all across Europe are failing to protect their people from illegal and harmful levels of air pollution.

“It is disappointing that not all nine countries called in for a meeting with the Commission in January have been referred today. The Commission should have made no exceptions and referred them all. There are no first class and second class citizens: all Europeans have the right to breathe clean air.

“We call on the Commission to continue show its full commitment to improve air quality in Europe and swiftly pursue all countries in breach of air quality laws.”

The Commission is also issuing additional letters of formal notice to Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom on the grounds that they have disregarded EU vehicle type approval rules.