Environment minister asks EU for more time to implement clean air measures
Germany鈥檚 environment minister Barbara Hendricks has asked the EU Commission for more time to implement binding legislation for ensuring better air quality in inner cities, Zeit Online reports. At a meeting in Brussels, Hendricks said Germany would improve the air quality in the 20 most affected cities by 2020, admitting that 鈥渨e鈥檙e not where we wanted to be鈥� in lowering pollution from car emissions and other sources. 鈥淭he emergency programme for clean air will bring about improvements,鈥� Hendricks said. EU environment commissioner Karmenu Vella doubted that the measures planned by Germany will be sufficient. 鈥淎ir pollution limit values will continue to be violated,鈥� Vella said. The EU Commission has threatened to sue states who fail to comply with air quality standards.
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