Thus, one of the provisions is that individuals whose health is affected will be able to claim compensation when the new pollution standards are violated, according to a press release cited by Agerpres.

The revised directive was adopted with 363 votes in favor, 226 against and 46 abstentions.

The text sets stricter limits and targets for 2035 for several pollutants, including fine particles (PM2,5, PM10), NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), SO2 (sulfur dioxide) and O3 (ozone).

The new standards would ensure that air quality in the EU does not harm human health, natural ecosystems and biodiversity and would align EU standards with the latest World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines.

Euro-deputies also underline that the air quality standards proposed by the Commission should be an intermediate goal that should be achieved as soon as possible and no later than 2030.

The text highlights the need to increase the number of air quality sampling points. In urban areas, there should be at least one monitoring center per two million inhabitants, presenting the exposure of the general urban population, with the Commission proposing one per ten million.

In places where high concentrations of ultra-fine particles, black carbon, mercury and ammonia (NH3) are likely to occur, there should be one sampling point per one million inhabitants, higher than the one initially proposed by the Commission, at five million, and only for ultra-fine particles.

Euro-deputies want to harmonize fragmented and unintuitive air quality indices throughout the EU. The indices should be comparable, clear and publicly available, with hourly updates, allowing citizens to safeguard themselves during periods of elevated air pollution (prior to reaching mandatory alert levels).

Furthermore, these should be complemented with details regarding symptoms linked to peaks in air pollution and health hazards related to each pollutant, with tailored information for vulnerable populations.

The European Parliament also wants citizens whose health is affected to have stronger rights to compensation when new standards are violated.

According to the Romanian MEP Nicu Ștefănuță, rapporteur from The Greens/EFA on this file, the legislation proposes stricter limits that, if exceeded, create the possibility of legal action for both affected individuals and NGOs. Moreover, individuals who suffer illness due to air quality violations may be eligible for compensation from authorities that have failed to implement measures.

MEPs propose that, in addition to air quality plans, which are necessary when EU countries exceed limits, all member states should create air quality roadmaps that set short- and long-term measures to meet the new limit values.

"Combating air pollution in Europe requires immediate action. This slow-motion pandemic has a devastating impact on our society, leading to premature deaths and a multitude of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. We must follow science, align air quality standards with WHO guidelines and promote some of the provisions of this directive. We must be ambitious in protecting our citizens' well-being and creating a cleaner and healthier environment", said Spanish rapporteur Javi Lopez (S&D) after the vote, quoted in the press release.

The Parliament is now ready to start negotiations with the Council on the final form of the law.

Air pollution continues to be the leading cause of premature death in the EU, with about 300,000 premature deaths per year, the most harmful being, according to the European Environment Agency, PM2,5, PM10, NO2, SO2 and O3.

According to EEA data, 29,000 Romanians die prematurely every year due to poor air quality.

"Romania has procedures for violating European legislation on air quality and risks large fines that will be paid out of citizens' pockets. A study published by CE Delft in 2021 shows that Bucharest records annual social cost losses of €6.35 billion, losses caused by the impact of air pollution on the health of residents. The next most affected cities in Romania are Timișoara, Brașov, Cluj and Iași. Health-related social costs include the direct costs needed to care for health problems caused by air pollution, as well as indirect costs caused by a decreased life expectancy", a press release from the office of MEP Nicu Ștefănuță said.