Brussels is putting countries under pressure for dirty air

brussels - Nine EU countries have until Monday to submit effective proposals in Brussels to improve air quality. Otherwise, the European Commission will take them to court.

That said EU Commissioner Karmenu Vella (Environment) after a meeting with nine environmental ministers he had called on the carpet. These are Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Great Britain.

These countries do not meet the legal standards for the emission of life-threatening substances such as nitrogen dioxide and have been doing too little for years to improve the air quality in their country. According to Vella, contaminated air causes 400,000 premature deaths each year in Europe.

'We have the responsibility to protect the citizen,' said Vella. 'It must be finished with the postponement of measures. It is an agony for children with asthma or bronchitis and their parents. '