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The directive on national emission ceilings (NEC)

The so-called NEC directive (2001/81/EC) was adopted in 2001. It sets binding emission ceilings to be attained by each member state by 2010. 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 ozone.

The directive is now under review and revision, as part of the work under the CAFE programme. For various reasons the proposal has been postponed several times. In July 2008 a proposal was put on hold for an undetermined period, see Acid News 3/08.

Additional reductions necessary to reach 2010 targets

Only 11 of the 25 countries that were members of the EU in 2005 expect to meet their respective national emission ceilings defined in the NEC directive 2010 with the measures they have agreed so far, according to an assessment by the EEA, based on 2005 data.

The remaining thirteen – Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden – are projected to miss ceilings for at least one of the four pollutants if additional actions to reduce emissions are not taken.

The eleven states that report they will meet the ceilings are Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovak Republic and the UK.

NITROGEN OXIDES, PROXIMITY TO EMISSION CEILINGS 2005, EU15.

In most cases it is the emission ceiling for nitrogen oxides that poses a problem for the countries. Twelve member states indicate that, without taking additional measures, they will not fall within their ceilings by 2010.

Four member states – Spain, Hungary, Denmark and Portugal – report that they do not envisage meeting their ceilings for VOCs in 2010.

Regarding sulphur dioxide, only two member states – Malta and the Netherlands – do not expect, with the current measures in place, to meet their ceilings in 2010.

Seventeen member states have already reduced ammonia emissions below their respective ceilings. Germany and Spain report that they will not reach the target for 2010 with the current measures in place.

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Last modified: 14 October 2008.