MEPs backed proposed EU sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emission limits for medium sized combustion plants, in December. Parliament endorsed the agreement negotiated with the Council by 623 votes to 70, with 12 abstentions.
Andrzej Grzyb, who is steering the legislation through Parliament said: "This legislation fills a legislative gap, a loophole that we have between the Ecodesign Directive, which sets out standards for combustion plants of less than 1MW and the Industrial Emissions Directive, for those over 50MW. The emission limits were set at an ambitious level, in order gradually to improve air quality, with proper safeguards for the operation of existing plants, in particular small plants, of less than 5MW, operated mostly by SMEs or utility companies, which are important for heating schools, hospitals or universities."
For new plants, the limits would take effect within three years. However, existing plants with a thermal output above 5MW would come into force from 2025 and the smallest plants with thermal input from 1 to 5 MW would have to comply with emission limit values from 2030.
The legislation does not prevent Member States from enforcing tougher standards than are required by the Directive and in areas where these emissions breach EU air quality standards, EU countries would be required to assess whether to introduce stricter limits.
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