The European Commission said
Wednesday that it has opened a new infringement procedure
against Italy for failing to meet its air quality obligations
under the terms of an Court of Justice of the European Union
(CJEU) ruling issued in 2020.
Brussels claims that in Italy in 2022 pollution levels exceeded
daily limits in "24 air quality zones" and exceeded annual
limits in one zone.
Italy now has two months to respond and "close the gap".
In the absence of a "satisfactory" response, the European
Commission said it could refer Italy back to the CJEU.
In November 2020 the European court upheld an action presented
by the European Commission on the back of an infringement
procedure launched against Italy in 2014, ruling that it
breached European law due to the levels of smog registered in
many parts of the country.
It said that the limit values applicable to concentrations of
PM10 particulate matter were systematically and persistently
exceeded between 2008 and 2017.
The court added that the "Italian Republic has manifestly failed
to
adopt in good time the measures" required to tackle the problem.
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