Another condemnation of Euro for her work in affairs environment protection added to her assets Hellas. New conviction for his low quality atmospheric air V Athena and, in particular, the systematic excesses of its prices nitrogen dioxide previous decade. Greece was also condemned for failing to take action to limit exceeding limits for a particular pollutant.

The verdict was announced yesterday Court of the European Union. Based on Greece’s annual air quality reports for the period 2010–2016, the Commission initiated a procedure against Greece in 2019 after finding a systematic excess of nitrogen dioxide limit values ​​in Athens. Greece ultimately failed to convince the Commission, and new data from 2016–2020 confirmed that air pollution remains high.

Planning

The commission found a systematic exceedance of nitrogen dioxide limit values ​​from 2010 to 2020.

According to the judgment (C-633-21), “The Hellenic Republic has systematically and consistently violated its obligations under Directive 2008/50/E.K. in the settlement of Athens between 2010 and 2020.” It further states that from June 2020, the country was supposed to draw up air quality plans, but it did not fulfill this obligation.

From my side, Greek authorities they argued that the excesses were concentrated at only 2 of the 14 measuring stations in the capital and were due to pollution from vehicle traffic. At the same time, they said that they have taken a number of measures, such as projects to reduce traffic congestion, increase the use of public transport, vehicle fleet, optimize the transport system, and reduce traffic congestion. and the promotion of the use of alternative fuels.

The Greek authorities also stated that they have commissioned an “Air Quality Plan for the Greater Athens Area”, which will include an assessment of the contribution of new measures, as well as the study of alternative scenarios for the implementation of various measures in case existing and planned measures are not enough. The Court rejected this argument, noting that even if the study currently being prepared is moving in the right direction, “this plan will be prepared more than ten years after the date on which the annual limit set for NO2 by the Community Directive”. . In addition, Greece has not taken appropriate measures to minimize the period of excess.