The Commission's amended proposal takes over totally or partly 19 of the 28 amendments
adopted by Parliament at first reading. The amendments introduced by the Commission have the
following effects:
- setting of an alert threshold for NO2, based on a threshold for effects in sensitive subjects;
- clarification of provisions requiring up-to-date information to be easily available to the public;
- clarification on where ecosystem and vegetation limit values will apply;
- simplification and strengthening of requirements relating to the measurement of pollution;
- adaptation of measurement requirements to the situation of small islands, particularly those
whose populations fluctuate because of tourism;
- statement of the Commission's intention to submit revised proposals if necessary when it reports
to Parliament and the Council in 2003 on implementation of the proposal for a directive;
- statement of the importance of research on air pollution as a basis for any such revised
proposals.
The Commission was unable to accept the amendments seeking to:
- define an alert threshold for PM10;
- specify the methods by which information should be sent to NGOs;
- delete the public information indicators;
- call on the Commission to encourage research on air pollution;
- make the limit value for SO2 markedly more stringent.
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