EU Commission calls on BULGARIA and POLAND to remove barriers to access to justice for citizens and environmental organisations in relation to air quality plans

Access to justice in environmental matters:

The Commission is urging Bulgaria and Poland to remove barriers to access to justice in relation to air quality plans.

Neither of the two countries has ensured that natural or legal persons directly concerned by exceedances of the air pollution limits under Directive 2008/50/ECon ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, are allowed to bring an action before the national courts.

Environmental organisations and natural or legal persons in these two Member States are currently not allowed to challenge the consistency of an air quality plan and to require public authorities to establish air quality plans as the Directive requires.

Therefore, considering that environmental governance plays a key role in enabling the proper functioning of different sectoral rules, the Commission has decided today to send letters of formal notice to both countries, giving them four months to remedy the situation.

In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may decide to send a reasoned opinion.

Vivian Loonela