Press Release: Air quality: Commission sends warnings to eight Member States over failures to comply with EU air quality standards

On 20 November 2009 the European Commission warned eight Member States for their continuing failures to improve air quality. Letters were sent to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, France, Hungary, the Slovak Republic, and Romania. The warnings came over excess emissions of tiny airborne particles known as PM 10. Under European legislation, certain limits were to be met by 2005. Numerous Member States applied to extend the time for meeting the PM 10 standard until June 2011, and some extensions were granted to countries clearly striving to improve compliance. The letters targeted the countries judged to be falling behind. France is also receiving a separate letter over its failure to control emissions of sulphur dioxide.