The National Emission Ceilings Directive sets out individual air pollutant emission limits for states, focused on nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ammonia (NH3).

The limits – or emission ceilings – have been in force since 2010 but preliminary 2014 data and final data for 2010-13 in the EEA’s new briefing ‘NEC Directive reporting status 2015’ shows that a number of countries consistently breached their limits for NOx, NMVOCs and NH3 in all these years.

The European Commission has proposed a revised National Emission Ceilings Directive – including new 2020 and 2030 reduction commitments for the four pollutants currently covered, as well as ceilings for two additional pollutants – fine particulate matter (PM2,5) and methane (CH4) – as part of its 2013 Clean Air Policy Programme.

The proposal is currently being negotiated by the European Parliament and Member States under the Dutch EU Presidency.