The European Commission launched a public consultation on the best way to improve air quality in Europe. The results of the consultation will feed into a comprehensive review of Europe's air policies due in 2013. The consultation is open until 4 March 2013.

The new public consultation opened by the European Commission has as main aim to improve air quality in the EU. The consultation is divided into two parts – a short questionnaire for the general public, and a more extensive set of questions for experts and practitioners from national administrations, regional and local authorities, researchers, businesses, stakeholders, health, environmental and other groups with experience in implementing EU air quality legislation. The contributions to the consultation can be made until 4 March 2013. In July 2011, the Commission already launched a public consultation on EU air quality legislation.

Building on two years of in-depth analysis and the results of this extensive consultation process, the Commission will make a proposal on the future of EU air policy by 2013 at the latest. Therefore, This consultation is part of a broader process designed to involve civil society in the upcoming air policy review.

Despite progress in the past decades resulting from legislation to reduce harmful pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and benzene, some pollutants are still causing problems. Summer smog, potentially harmful ground-level ozone and fine particles that pose significant health risks regularly exceed safe limits. Consequently, exposure to air pollution still causes over 350,000 premature deaths in the EU every year.