EU opens infringement procedure against Italy on air quality

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 13 - 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.
    (ANSA).