Air pollution: "Despite legislative efforts, member States continue to exceed EU limit values" (EP)

"Despite significant legislative efforts and gradual improvements in air quality since the 1970s, many Member States continue to exceed EU limit values for key pollutants, including particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and sulphur dioxide (SO2)". That's what stressed the study entitled "Air pollution in the EU", and released on 03/02/2026 by the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions.

Air pollution "remains one of the most significant environmental and public health challenges facing the EU". It caused approximately "357 000 deaths in the EU in 2022", with economic costs ranging from €268 Bn to €428 Bn per year", according to the European Environment Agency.

The study highlights that "the primary deficiency lies in implementation, enforcement, and compliance". Specifically, key barriers include lack of political will to adopt strict measures, inadequate financial resources in regions with low GDP, and weak enforcement mechanisms at both EU and national levels. But also absence of comprehensive connections between air quality legislation and…