EU Commission sues six states over NOx limits

The lawsuits against Germany, France, and the United Kingdom concern the non-compliance with nitrogen dioxide limits. Hungary, Italy, and Romania, on the other hand, must answer before the ECJ for the persistently high levels of particulate matter. Additionally, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Spain are also failing to meet the EU limits. However, unlike the countries being sued, the Commission believes that they have taken or at least planned measures that are suitable to combat air pollution.

"The member states accused before the Court today received several last chances over the past ten years to improve the situation," said EU Commissioner for Environment Karmenu Vella in justification of the lawsuits. According to the EU Commission, the states in question have not proposed "convincing, effective, and timely measures to reduce pollution to the agreed limits as quickly as possible, as required by EU law." The fatal part is that the limits have been in place since 2010, and the Commission had already initiated infringement proceedings against Germany twice—once in 2015 and again at the end of 2016. If these show no effect, the EU can file a lawsuit. And this is likely to increase pressure on affected cities to introduce driving bans.

Furthermore, the EU Commission accuses Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom of disregarding EU regulations concerning vehicle type approval. Here too, the Commission aims to exert further pressure to prompt a response from the German government regarding the diesel emissions scandal.

What does this mean?

The EU is increasing the pressure. Indeed, the states and vehicle manufacturers are making slow progress in terms of air quality control. One problem is the constantly increasing traffic load in metropolitan areas, making air clean-up difficult. Furthermore, the Commission should also have an eye on other sectors, which are just as slow to act.