Changes from plenary report to adopted text

Article 19 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2: Where exceedances of the ozone target value persist during the third calendar year after the end of the calendar year in which the first exceedance was recorded in the relevant NUTS 2 territorial unit, Member States shall update the air quality plan and the measures therein, and take additional and more effective measures, in the subsequent calendar year to keep the exceedance period as short as possible, and in any case no longer than 2 calendar years after the update of the air quality plan.

Article 19 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3: For NUTS 2 territorial units where the ozone target value is exceeded, Member States shall ensure that the relevant national air pollution control programme prepared pursuant to Article 6 of Directive (EU) 2016/2284 includes measures addressing those exceedances.

Article 19 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1: Where in a given NUTS 2 territorial unit, the average exposure reduction obligation laid down in Section 5 of Annex I is exceeded, Member States shall establish air quality plans for those NUTS 2 territorial units as soon as possible and no later than 2 years after the calendar year during which the exceedance of the average exposure reduction obligation was recorded. Those air quality plans shall set out appropriate and sufficient measures to achieve the average exposure reduction obligation and to keep the exceedance period as short as possible and in any case no longer than 3 years from the end of the calendar year in which the first exceedance was recorded.

Article 19 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2: Where exceedances of the average exposure reduction obligation persist during the third calendar year after the end of the calendar year in which the first exceedance was recorded, Member States shall update the air quality plan and the measures therein, including updated detailed information concerning the status of implementation of the Directives referred to in Point B, point 1, of Annex VIII and take additional and more effective measures, in the subsequent calendar year to keep the exceedance period as short as possible, and in any case no longer than 1 calendar year after the update of the air quality plan.

Article 19 – paragraph 4: deleted / (deleted)

Article 19 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part: Air quality plans and air quality roadmaps shall contain at least the following information:

Article 19 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new): (ba) the information referred to in Point B, point 1, of Annex VIII, and in particular measures included in the National Air Pollution Control Programme (NAPCP);

Article 19 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point c: (c) information on abatement measures listed in Point B, Point 2 of Annex VIII.

Article 19 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2: Member States shall include measures referred to in Article 20(2) and specific measures aiming at the protection of sensitive population and vulnerable groups, including children in their air quality plans and air quality roadmaps.

Article 19 – paragraph 5 a (new): 5a. The Commission may, at the request of a Member State, provide assistance and technical expertise in the framework of the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) in order to support air quality policies and measures in the Member State concerned.

Article 19 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph -1 (new): Member States shall ensure that before the time period for receiving comments from the public starts, the draft air quality plan or draft air quality roadmap containing the minimum information required under Points A and B of Annex VIII is made available to the public on the internet, free of charge and without restricting access to registered users, and, where appropriate, through other non-digital communication channels. Member States may also make available to the public on the internet, free of charge and without restricting access to registered users, and, where appropriate, through other non-digital communication channels the following: / (a) information on the methods used to assess the estimated impact of the air quality plan or air quality roadmap pursuant to Point Ba of Annex VIII, and the background documents and information used for the development of the draft air quality plan or draft air quality roadmap; / (b) a non-technical summary of the information referred to in this subparagraph.

Article 19 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1: Member States shall consult the public, in accordance with Directive 2003/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council59, and the competent authorities, which, by reason of their responsibilities in the field of air pollution and air quality, are likely to be concerned by the implementation of the air quality plans and air quality roadmaps, on draft air quality plans and draft air quality roadmaps and any significant updates of air quality plans and air quality roadmaps prior to their finalisation.

Article 19 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 2: Member States shall encourage the active involvement of all interested parties in the implementation of this Directive, in particular in the preparation, review and update of air quality plans and air quality roadmaps. When preparing air quality plans and air quality roadmaps, Member States shall ensure that stakeholders whose activities contribute to the exceedance situation are encouraged to propose measures they are able to take to help end the exceedances and that non-governmental organisations, such as environmental and health organisations, consumer organisations, organisations representing the interests of sensitive population and vulnerable groups, other relevant health-care bodies, including healthcare professionals and the relevant industrial federations are encouraged to take part in those consultations. Member States shall make sure that relevant stakeholders and citizens are duly informed about the specific sources and air pollutants affecting air quality and the relevant air pollution mitigation measures that exist and are available on the market.

Article 19 – paragraph 7: 7. Air quality plans and air quality roadmaps shall be communicated to the Commission within 2 months after their adoption .

Article 19 – paragraph 7 a (new): 7a. The Commission shall establish, by means of implementing acts, a template with the format and structure of the air quality plans and air quality roadmaps. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 26(2).

Article 19 – paragraph 7 b (new): 7b. The Commission may establish guidance on the elaboration, implementation and revision of air quality plans and, where appropriate, air quality roadmaps.

Article 19 – paragraph 7 c (new): 7c. The Commission shall facilitate the elaboration and implementation of the air quality plans and air quality roadmaps, where appropriate, through an exchange of good practices.

Article 20 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2: However, where there is a risk that the alert threshold for ozone will be exceeded, Member States may refrain from drawing up such short-term action plans when there is no significant potential, taking into account national geographical, meteorological and economic conditions, to reduce the risk, duration or severity of such an exceedance.

Article 20 – paragraph 5 a (new): 5a. The Commission may establish guidelines setting out best practices for drawing up short-term action plans, including examples of best practices for the protection of sensitive population and vulnerable groups, including children. Those examples shall be updated regularly. The Commission shall promote the exchange of best practices among Member States through the EU Clean Air Forum.

Article 21 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2: The Member States concerned shall cooperate at national, regional and local level, including by establishing joint teams of experts, to identify the sources of air pollution and the shares of pollution originating from each country and the measures to be taken individually and jointly to address those sources, and draw up joint activities, such as the preparation of joint or coordinated air quality plans pursuant to Article 19, in order to remove such exceedances.

Article 21 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 a (new): The Member States concerned shall inform the Commission without undue delay of the situation and measures taken.

Article 21 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3: Member States shall respond to each other in a timely manner, and no later than 2 months after being notified by another Member State in accordance with the first subparagraph.

Article 21 – paragraph 2: 2. The Commission shall be informed of, and invited to be present, assist and oversee any cooperation referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article. The Commission may also, in cooperation with the Member States concerned, draw up working plans for the implementation of proposed measures. Where appropriate, the Commission shall, taking into account the reports established pursuant to Article 11 of Directive (EU) 2016/2284, consider whether further action shall be taken at Union level in order to reduce precursor emissions responsible for transboundary pollution.

Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point d: (d) short-term action plans drawn up in accordance with Article 20;

Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new): (da) overview of air pollution sources and air pollutants affecting air quality in a Member State concerned;

Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point d b (new): (db) documentation submitted to the Commission in relation to exceedances caused by natural sources referred to in Article 16(2);

Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point d c (new): (dc) documentation on site selection referred to in point D of Annex IV;

Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point e: (e) the effects of exceedances of limit values, ozone target values, average exposure reduction obligations and average exposure concentration objectives, information thresholds and alert thresholds in a summary assessment ; the summary assessment shall include, where appropriate, further information and assessments on forest protection as well as information on pollutants covered by Article 10 and Annex VII.

Article 22 – paragraph 2: 2. Member States shall establish an air quality index covering sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and ozone, and make it available in a coherent and easily understandable manner through a public source providing an hourly update, ensuring that sufficient real-time data is available in all stations. The air quality index shall be comparable across all Member States and follow the most up-to-date recommendations by the WHO and be based on the air quality indices at European scale provided by the European Environmental Agency. The air quality index shall be accompanied by information about the associated health risks for each pollutant, including information tailored to sensitive population and vulnerable groups.

Article 22 – paragraph 2 a (new): 2a. By ... [12 months after the date of entry into force of this Directive], the Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 25 to supplement this Directive by specifying how the air quality index shall be calculated and presented, and the format and structure of the information provided to the public.

Article 22 – paragraph 2 b (new): 2b. Member States shall promote the display of information on symptoms associated with air pollution peaks and on air pollution exposure reduction and protection behaviours, in buildings frequented by sensitive population and vulnerable groups, such as healthcare facilities.

Article 22 – paragraph 3: 3. Member States shall inform the public of the competent authority or body designated in relation to the tasks referred to in Article 5 and of the competent authority or body operating the sampling points established pursuant to Article 9 and Annex IV.