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The directive on national emission ceilings (NEC)

The NEC directive (2001/81/EC) was adopted in 2001. It sets binding emission ceilings to be achieved by each member state by 2010 and not to be exceeded thereafter. The directive covers four air pollutants: sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and ammonia.

The aim of the directive is to gradually improve, through a stepwise reduction of the four pollutants, the protection both of human health and the environment throughout the EU. The directive establishes interim environmental quality targets that are to be attained by 2010.

These targets constitute the first step towards the achievement of the long-term objectives of not exceeding the so-called critical loads, and of effective protection of human health against risks from air pollution, as laid down in the EU's Fifth and Sixth Environmental Action Programmes.

This NEC directive is the key legislation for the achievement of those environmental objectives, as well as for attaining the EU air quality standards for a number of pollutants, including SO2, NO2, particles (PM10 and PM2.5) and ozone.

A process of review and revision of the NEC directive started around 2003 as part of the work under the CAFE programme, and a proposal for revision was originally expected to be published by the Commission at the same time as the publication of the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution in 2005. Since then the Commission has repeatedly postponed the adoption and publication of its revision proposal. In the summer of 2010, Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik suggested it may be further delayed until 2013 (see Acid News 3/10).

Additional reductions necessary to reach 2010 targets

Only one in two member states expect to comply with their emission limits for all four air pollutants set by the EU national emission ceilings directive. The most recent EEA evaluation (see Acid News 3/10) available covers past emissions up until 2008.

Thirteen countries – Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK – are projected to miss their respective ceilings for at least one of the four pollutants if additional actions to reduce emissions are not taken.

Three countries – namely Austria, Germany and Malta – anticipate missing two of their emission ceilings, while Spain is forecast to miss as many as three.

Figure 1: Anticipated member state compliance with emission ceilings. Red with a large X indicates exceedance by more than 10 per cent, yellow with a small x indicates exceedance by less than 10 per cent, and green indicates compliance.

In most cases it is the emission ceiling for NOx that poses the greatest problem, with eleven countries predicting they will miss their ceilings, unless they take additional measures. The projected NOx emissions for the EU27 are four per cent above the aggregated national ceilings for 2010, and 14 per cent above the Annex II ceiling.

Regarding SO2, the EU as a whole is projected to be 30 per cent below the aggregate ceiling, and 25 per cent below the Annex II ceiling.

Three member states report that they do not envisage meeting their VOC ceilings in 2010. Projections for the EU27 as a whole are 15 per cent below the aggregated ceiling target, and marginally below the Annex II ceiling.

22 member states have already reduced ammonia emissions below their respective ceilings. Three countries report that they will not reach the target for 2010 with the current measures in place. The projections for the EU27 as a whole are eight per cent below the aggregated EU ceiling targets for 2010.

Figure 2: Aggregated "with measures" projected emissions for 2010 as reported by member states, compared with the ceilings defined in Annex I and Annex II of the directive, measured in kilotonnes.

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Last modified: 20 October 2010.

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