About 97% of the urban population in the European Union live in areas where air pollution exceeds levels advised by the World Health Organization. That means the air most Europeans breathe daily is not clean. It is often described as an invisible killer caused by traffic, industry, heating, and agriculture, responsible for more than 300,000 premature deaths each year in Europe. A long list of diseases follows, including asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer, and heart problems. The European Environment Agency has repeatedly warned that this represents the greatest environmental threat to public health (EEA).
For this reason the European Commission, which leads EU legislative work, scrutinizes European air quality directives. In the Green Deal, the aim is to align standards more closely with WHO recommendations, strengthen air quality monitoring, and improve planning so local authorities can achieve cleaner air. This is a plan the Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius has described as actively underway, with negotiations between two EU institutions ongoing in the coming months.
In mid-September, the European Parliament adopted its negotiating position, with votes against from certain parties. EU governments are still negotiating a mandate; while the proposal has a provisional green light, there is no date yet for Coreper to discuss it, as it prepares ministers’ meetings. The agenda points to an environmental council in December and a Spanish presidency aiming to advance the file. A political agreement is expected within six months so tripartite talks can start and conclude before the European elections in May 2024.
A stone in the road
“People want clean air, but when it comes to implementing changes, the practical challenges surface,” notes a key European Parliament rapporteur responsible for examining the regulation. The latest example of balancing ambition with practical steps is the Euro 7 standard, the newest update on vehicle emissions and a major driver of air pollution. Although negotiations continue, governments have begun to temper their targets.
The Spanish presidency of the EU aims to seal an agreement this term and have the new law in place before the European elections
Despite this setback, a senior MEP argues that a Common European Framework for air quality offers clear benefits. Debates around low-emission zones, particularly in central Madrid, could prevent measures from becoming an uphill battle, a situation observed in Spain. The issue remains deeply divisive at both national and European levels, with conservatives arguing that the rules are too punitive and focus more on sanctions than on incentivizing improvement.
Speaking for the People’s Party, representatives say they support environmental policies that align climate action with economic growth and sector competitiveness. The proposal envisages rapid emission reductions that some find technically unachievable. A firm stance is taken: there is no support for measures viewed as unrealistic.
Even conservative voices acknowledge public health concerns, but stress the need to consider real possibilities. They argue that even the strictest path would not automatically improve air quality and might simply push for greater restrictions on economic activity and legal challenges against member states.
Four pillars of the plan
The Brussels proposal centers on four pillars: establishing standards aligned with WHO criteria, building a network of exposure monitoring stations, delivering clearer information about the health effects of polluted air, and strengthening governance with a citizen right to seek redress for health harm caused by air pollution, including collective actions. The plan is gradual to give authorities and industry time to prepare, with the goal of cutting premature deaths from fine particles by more than 75% within ten years.
The intent is to lower permissible European standards from the current 25 μg/m3 to 10 μg/m3 by 2030, a level still above the WHO’s 2021 target of 5 μg/m3. The impact on children is also a concern. A recent EEA study shows pollution claims more than 1,200 child lives in the EU each year. Until general air pollution reaches a safe level, improving air quality in schools, nurseries, and during sports and commutes can help reduce children’s exposure (EEA).
The EU has several tools to manage air quality: thousands of monitoring stations track concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and fine particles daily. Concentrations are notably higher in eastern and central European countries and Italy. The Parliament calls for more ambitious monitoring, including one station for every two million urban residents, a stricter rule than the current ratio, and tighter oversight of ultrafine particles, black carbon, mercury, and ammonia. It also promotes national roadmaps with short- and long-term measures, along with expanded monitoring near hospitals and schools. The plan allows postponing the strictest borders to 2035, five years beyond the earlier proposal. It also highlights that particles, NO2, SO2, and O3 often exceed WHO guidelines (WHO and EU monitoring data).
Where will the sticking points occur in the final rounds of talks? The key negotiator for EU parliamentarians notes that standards, sanctions, and access to compensation will likely be contentious. The European Commission and Parliament support these elements, but the Council has yet to authorize its participation, which may delay progress. The path ahead remains delicate as ministers prepare for a tough balance between health protections and economic considerations.