There is an ongoing (2018) fitness check of the two Ambient Air Quality Directives (AAQ) (Directives 2008/50/EC and 2004/107/EC) initiated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment (assisted by consultants such as Milieu and Eunomia). They are being reviewed because they have been in force over 10 years now (Commission, 2011). The fitness check centres on five evaluation criteria; relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and EU added value (as outlined in the Better Regulation agenda). The findings of the fitness check will inform a review of the AAQ deciding if they are fit for purpose and continue to protect the citizens of the EU, and their environment, from harm.
This fitness check process has had the following recommendations from public consultations (EC, 2018):