Endorsement of amendment to the 1999 Gothenburg Protocol

Background and further information:

The Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP, or Gothenburg Protocol) is the main international framework to tackle air pollution. 51 countries from the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region are parties to the convention, including all EU member states.

Over the last 30 years, 8 protocols broadened the scope of the convention to incorporate stricter emission rules for air pollutants, the eighth being the 1999 Gothenburg Protocol. The EU approved that protocol in June 2003.

The main instruments used by the European Union to implement the Gothenburg Protocol are the National Emission Ceilings (NEC) and the Medium Combustion Plants directives.

The Commission presented a proposal for a Council decision to accept the amendment as part of the 'Clean Air Programme for Europe' in December 2013.

Negotiations at EU level were on hold since then in view of the revision of the NEC directive. Following the directive's adoption on 8 December 2016, the Council agreed on the decision on 25 April 2017 and the European Parliament gave its consent during its plenary on 5 July 2017.

The final adoption of the Decision accepting the amendment was decided during a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council.

This amendment strengthens the provisions set out in the original text of the protocol and its annexes with the aim of enhancing in the long term the protection of human health and the environment from transboundary air pollution.

The Council of the European Union adopted on 17 July 2017 a Decision accepting on behalf of the EU an amendment to the 1999 Gothenburg Protocol to reduce emissions of air pollutants globally.

EurActiv, 19.07.17: Denmark disputes ‘highly unfair’ air pollution limits on agriculture http://www.euractiv.com/section/air-pollution/news/denmark-disputes-highly-unfair-air-pollution-limits-on-agriculture/

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