During the plenary session (15-18/07) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on clean air zone in EU cities. Statements by Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs, Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Peter LIESE (EPP, DE), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&D, DK), Caroline VOADEN (RE, UK) and Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA, FR).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

air quality (T)

STYLIANIDES, Christos (CY, EC)

LIESE, Peter (EPP, DE)

DELLI, Karima (Greens/EFA, FR)

SCHALDEMOSE, Christel (S&D, DK)

VOADEN, Caroline (Renew, UK)

TUPPURAINEN, Tytti (FI)

Clean air zone in EU cities: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs, Air pollution directly causes both chronic and serious diiseases, such as asthma, cardiovascular problems and lung cancer. Ill health caused by air pollution costs the economy billions of euros in lost working days and causes 400,000 premature deaths per year in Europe only.

SOUNDBITE (English), Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs,  Low emission zones and incentives for cleaner transportation modes have been successfully implemented in different cities and regions in Europe with encouraging results. The data show that air quality has improved across Europe over the past decades. In particular in urban areas. As emissions of many pollutants have been successfully reduced.

SOUNDBITE (English), Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs, A number of cities in the EU still exceeded the limit values of the national emission ceilings directive. Thus. We all have to work nationally to secure better health for our citizens. The strong link between air quality and climate change means that similar measures can help tackling both.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, The fact that their pollution causes over 400000 premature deaths every year is unacceptable. We have to act.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Limit values on air pollution and an obligation to keep exdences period as short as possible. And the commission steps in when and wher this is not the case, but the choice of measures lies with our member states.

SOUNDBITE (German), Peter LIESE (EPP, DE), Some things have been done but the car industry does need to take its responsibilities seriously. We must make sure that there is the possibility for retrofitting to help with emissions problems. We've got this new Euro 7 level. But we need to think of a few other modes of transport such as shipping. What sort of VON DER LEYEN was talking about that in the context of CO2 emissions but also other emissions need to be thought about when it comes to shipping. Ships tend to burn all sorts of rubbish fuel and they don't tend to scrub the emissions and this is why we need to concentrate on that aspect to try to get cleaner air. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (Danish), Christel SCHALDEMOSE (S&amp;D, DK), And still I think less than a quarter of cars on the roads following the diesel gate scandal have been withdrawn from the market. In the meantime three quarters are still out there and continue to pollute. It's simply not good enough. Our air needs to be cleaner. And why. It's because as Peter LIESE was saying it's about our health. People are dying.

SOUNDBITE (English), Caroline VOADEN (RE, UK), There are some in this chamber who deny that this is a European issue and say the EU should not tell member states what to do, but air pollution does not respect national borders. One country's pollution affects another country's people.

SOUNDBITE (French), Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA, FR), There's the scandal that is called diesel gate and I've been sounding the alarm for four years now and how many of these terrible cars are still on the roads. What have you done. What are you waiting for to recall these cars. What are you waiting for to protect consumer rights. (coughs) Air pollution is everywhere.