The European Commission has launched a public consultation which has as main aim to collect views on the strengths and weaknesses of the EU air quality existing legislative framework and progress on its implementation. This web-based consultation is part of a broader process of reflection that will feed into a review due no later than 2013.

Air pollution is one of the main environmental worries facing EU citizens. Actually Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik stated that there are 500,000 premature deaths associated with high air pollution from particulate matter. Furthermore, the European Commission published the new set of online maps which give Europeans close-up picture of air pollution from diffuse sources, with the results that up to 49% of Europeans living in areas where EU air quality objectives are still not met.

The European Commission is launching a public consultation on its current policy in this area as part of a comprehensive review of Europe's air policies intended to set new long-term objectives beyond 2020. For the next twelve weeks, views are being sought on the strengths and weaknesses of the existing legislative framework and progress on its implementation. The public consultation on EU air quality legislation is divided into a short questionnaire for the general public and a longer section for experts and other groups involved in the implementation of EU air quality legislation.

This is the start of a broad consultation process on this matter as announced by the Commission in January 2011. The Commission will continue its preparatory work and carry out another round of public consultations before presenting ideas on the future of EU air policy by 2013 at the latest.