Benefits of EU Membership

The protection of the environment is a policy area where benefits of EU common action are evident, given its cross-border nature. Water and air pollution do not stop at borders, thus harmonised standards and common rules are beneficial for all actors and avoid freeriding. EU directives on air pollution date decades back: Council Directive 88/609/EEC set limits on the emissions of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen. As shown in Figure 2, the emissions of these and other major pollutants have fallen dramatically since 1990. Member States that do not respect pollution limits can face infringement procedures and be legally pursued by the ECJ, which may result in financial sanctions. Recently, the Court has ruled that "France has systematically and persistently exceeded the annual limit value for nitrogen dioxide since 1 January 2010". While technological advance helps the shift towards cleaner practices, the incentive provided by legal limits on emissions is of significant importance. As shown by the existence of infringement procedures, it is uncertain whether Member States would have drastically reduced emissions of pollutants if it were not for EU legal limits. Similarly, EU regulation provides a strong incentive, as well as financial assistance, to countries wishing to join the EU to ameliorate their air quality and strengthen their environmental institutions.

Figure 2. Improving air quality in the EU