The report shows that road transport remains the single most important source of sulphur oxides, carbon monoxide and non-methane volatile organic compounds in the EU. It is also the second-most important source, behind the construction and residential sector, of fine particulate emissions, which can cause respiratory diseases.
Earlier in April, the EU Council of Ministers approved a new air quality directive which sets binding EU-wide limits for fine particle emissions. In a statement annexed to the directive, the Commission announced a number of wide new legislative proposals it plans to put forward in 2008 to further improve air quality in Europe. This means that motorists’ and transporters’ budgets will be affected by new environmental oriented politics.
