29 January 2009 - The European Commission has revealed today that it is to launch legal proceedings against the UK for its failure to achieve targets on air quality set down under EU law.

- South East MEP Lucas says the Commission’s decision is yet another nail in the coffin of the Government’s ‘green’ credentials

The news comes just a few days after Defra announced it is ‘seeking views’ on the UK’s application to the Commission for an extension of the deadline to enable it to meet EU air quality targets under the Air Quality Directive.

Green MEP for the South East and Leader of the Green Party, Dr Caroline Lucas, has called the Commission’s decision "a shameful indictment of the Government’s misguided and irresponsible commitment to aviation expansion and coal-fired power".

Dr Lucas MEP said: "Today’s announcement by the Commission exposes the complete failure of this Government to take its environmental responsibilities seriously. The fact that Defra has only just started its consultation process on applying for an extension – while the Commission is already poised to take legal action – shows just how staggeringly out of touch UK ministers really are.

"The Commission’s launch of legal action should come as no surprise to the Government. In July last year, I met with EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas to warn him of the UK’s plans to ask for a delay on the air quality targets set under the EU Air Quality Directive – at the very same time it was planning to expand Heathrow.

"Commissioner Dimas agreed that an application for derogation (a delay) until 2011 would go against the spirit of the Directive, which is due to come into force next year."

She continued: "These air quality targets are designed by the EU to reduce the pollutant particles found in our air, which have been linked to asthma, cardiovascular problems and lung cancer.

"Yet the Government seems intent on pushing ahead with projects that will condemn the British public to increasingly dirty air. Expansion at Heathrow, for example, will clearly breach EU air quality targets, and could cost Britain millions of Euros in fines. The proposed new fleet of coal-fired power stations would also cause untold air pollution."

The South East MEP concluded: "Ultimately, the Government must be held to account for failing to curb damaging climate emissions and failing to make our air cleaner. It must take heed of the Commission’s warnings of legal action and immediately step up efforts to meet the EU air quality targets."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

To read more information from the European Commission, follow this link - http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/174&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en