EC sues Belgium and warns Romania for not respecting EC norms on air quality 

The European Commission sued Belgium for not respecting maximum ceilings on air quality standards, imposed by the EU because Belgium did not manage to resolve the problem in eight areas of its country. Since Romania is also in the situation of not respecting these norms, the Commission will send a motivated request. Once received, Romania has two months to comply with the requests. Bucharest citizens breathed a polluted air three times higher than the maximum.

EC/50/2008 directive on air quality and for a cleaner air for Europe imposes EU member states to limit the exposure of citizens to micro particles known as PM10. The directive limits annual exposure concentration and daily concentration. In Romania limits on PM10 are exceeded in 17 areas.

In 2010, Romania requested a delay for 11 of the areas and the Commission sent a motivated request of the six other areas. The Commission came to the conclusion that the six areas do not comply with the standards and the EC will send a motivated request for 9 areas (meanwhile the situation improved in 2 of the areas). Romania has 2 months to reply and a lack of progress could lead to a EU Court of Justice trial.