Baltic and European news
Parliament approves marine and air quality deals
2447, 11/12/07
The European parliament overwhelmingly approved two compromise agreements on new EU laws governing ambient air quality and marine protection in Strasbourg on Tuesday. The two second-reading deals were reached with EU governments at the end of November (EED 03/12/07 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/24411 and EED 03/12/07 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/24414).
The EU marine directive will require member states to take measures to ensure the "good environmental status" of all EU seas from 2020. The air quality directive will establish the first ever binding EU limits on ambient levels of ultra-fine particles less than 2.5 microns wide (PM2.5) from 2015.
Both directive texts must still be rubber-stamped by the council of ministers before they can enter force.
As part of the deal on air quality the European commission will issue a declaration setting out the legislative proposals it plans to table in 2008. These include new Euro VI controls on emissions from heavy duty vehicles, a tightening of existing EU limits on emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from petrol stations, and a revision of the EU national emission ceilings (NEC) directive (EED 31/05/07 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/23303).
*Meanwhile, on Tuesday, MEPs called on the commission to allow EU countries to charge reduced VAT rates for goods and services with a clear social, environmental or economic benefit. The call came in suggested legislative amendments to commission proposals that would allow member states to continue applying reduced VAT rates to certain goods and services. The parliament has only rudimentary decision-making powers over EU taxation issues.
Follow-up: European parliament http://www.europarl.europa.eu/default.htm, tel: +32 2 284 2111, plus press releases on air quality http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/064-14646-344-12-50-911-20071210IPR14640-10-12-2007-2007-false/default_en.htm
and marine protection http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/064-14649-344-12-50-911-20071210IPR14643-10-12-2007-2007-false/default_en.htm,
and reactions from the European Liberals http://www.alde.eu/index.php?id=42&tx_ttnews%5btt_news%5d=9140&cHash=40e8ba0940 and the European Greens http://www.greens-efa.org/cms/pressreleases/dok/210/210334.air_pollution@en.htm. See also press release on reduced VAT rates
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