Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-09-24-Speech-3-306"
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"en.20030924.11.3-306"2
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". – Mr President, this summer we had record temperatures all over Europe. We also had very high levels of ozone concentrations all over Europe and the two phenomena are unfortunately linked. Ground-level ozone, or photochemical smog as it is also called, is the result of three components: VOCs – volatile organic compounds – NOx – nitrogen oxide – and sunshine.
Ozone is an aggressive gas which attacks our respiratory systems and damages plants, even at relatively low concentrations. Member States have committed themselves to achieving significant reductions in VOC emissions in 2010 in order to meet the so-called national emissions ceiling.
As requested by Member States, this proposal for a directive targets a group of products which contributes significantly to total VOC emissions in Europe, namely paints and varnishes for buildings and products for vehicle refinishing. Limiting the solvent content in these products is considered to be the only practicable way to help reduce VOC emissions and, consequently, air pollution from this major source.
For the sake of clarity, I also want to emphasise what this proposal does not aim to do. The purpose is not to establish or harmonise measures for the protection of the health of workers or human health in general. Although national or Community measures for these purposes obviously have to respect the general requirements under the Treaty, they clearly fall outside the scope of this proposal and are therefore not restricted or modified by this proposal.
This proposal has the simpler and broader aim of improving the quality of the air we all breathe, by reducing emissions of VOCs, thereby reducing the formation of ozone.
We have to act now if we want summer sunshine and fine weather to be experienced as sources of pleasure, rather than sources of air pollution and threats to human health and the environment."@en1
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