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EU Air Pollution Directive under Threat The EU Air Pollution Directive is being reviewed this year. Some members of the European Commission and the European Parliament want to make it stronger but they are under a lot of pressure from many national politicians to make it weaker. The Directive sets legal limits on the amount of air pollution allowed. If those legal limits are exceeded, the member states can be fined. Many countries are struggling to meet the legal limits. Therefore they want the limits relaxed.

The air pollution legal limits are an important way of preventing growth at the major airports in Europe. For example, air pollution is above the legal limit in areas around Heathrow. It is important, therefore, that we right to the European Commission and members of the European Parliament from our own country telling them that the air pollution legal limits are important and urging them not to weaken them.

You can find details of the consultation at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/review_air_policy.htm And a very useful summary here: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/air_pollution_en.htm

You can find details of the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs): http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/full-list.html There will also be separate lists of the MEPs in your own country.

The closing date to respond is 4th March.

How to Lobby Successfully in Brussels At the UECNA Annual General Meeting on 23rd March there will be a talk from an expert on the best way to lobby the European Commission and the European Parliament. The meeting is open to everybody. You do not to need to be a member of UECNA to attend. Frank Schwalba-Hoth has agreed to address the meeting. He is one of the most experienced lobbyists in Brussels. He was a founder of the German Greens and an MEP from 1984 to 1987. Since he left the European Parliament he has been a consultant in Brussels. In 2011 he published the EU Stakeholder Directory, "a 900 page print and online directory of who’s who and what’s where in Brussels". Non-members welcome to join us from 11.00 – 16.30. Email johnstewart2@btconnect.com if you are interested in attending.