The Commission's re-examined proposal accepts amendments which aim in particular to :
- improve the definition of "natural occurrence" which may justify a derogation at the end of the determination of respect of the limit values fixed for the particles (taking into account geothermal activities and exceptionally violent winds);
- state in a more detailed manner how the public can be kept informed of the relation between levels of pollution and limit values;
- specify that the demand to make public the plans drawn up in order to ensure the respect of limit values also applies in the areas and agglomerations in which the concentrations of sulphur dioxide due to natural events or the concentrations of particles due to natural events or the winter sanding of roads are not taken into consideration;
- specify that the Commission will study the possibility of fixing the alert thresholds for the particles when it prepares a report, by 31/12/2003 at the latest, on the application of the proposal;
- determine the date which the margin of exceedance for certain limit values starts to decrease.�