EU governments adopt tougher air pollution limits, with reservations
Germany seeks reassurance from European Commission that it will not be forced to restrict car driving or shutter polluting factories as stricter air quality rules take effect across Europe.
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00:00The European Union is to toughen its air pollution limits, bringing them closer to what is recommended
00:07by the World Health Organization.
00:10Environment ministers signed off the stricter limits at the Environment Council in Luxembourg.
00:16But some countries expressed their reservations about meeting the deadlines.
00:20Malta, for example, claims it would be impossible for it to meet the new limit on nitrogen dioxide.
00:27And Germany welcomed a clause that allows governments to postpone the deadline until
00:312040.
00:33They also sought reassurance from the European Commission that it will not be forced to restrict
00:37car driving or close industrial plants.