EU Commission praises German environmental policy but criticises air pollution

Germany is following a “proactive strategy in developing comprehensive environmental policies” but should make greater efforts to improve air quality for the sake of its citizens’ health and quality of life, the European Commission said in a country report on the implementation of environmental standards. Germany is doing particularly well on establishing “a circular economy” with high recycling rates and pursues an “advanced approach regarding Green infrastructure”. Yet it lags behind on reducing the impact of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM10), the Commission said. Reducing “environmentally harmful subsidies” is a “main opportunity” in order for Germany to tackle this shortcoming, it added.

Read the Commission’s report in English here.