Violation of EU air quality standards does not give the right to individual compensation. This was established by the Court of the European Union in reference to a citizen’s appeal against the French state.
The resident of the Paris Region had sought compensation of 21 million euros for the deterioration of his health, which he claimed was due to the violation of EU air quality standards by the transalpine authorities.
The EU Court has clarified that European rules do not give individuals the right to compensation. Instead, they give the right to take action before the competent courts to get national authorities to take the measures required under the Air Quality Directive.
On 26 October, the European Commission proposed a revision of the Directive, which would introduce the right of citizens to seek compensation for damage to health deriving from non-compliance with EU pollution limits.
