European Integration and Transboundary transfer of air pollution: Analyzing the case of nitrogen oxides

摘要

The recent expansion of the EU, in May 2004, included ten new members eight of which used to belong to the so-called "former eastern block". The post WWII environmental policy followed in this region has been radically different from the tendencies followed in Western Europe. While in both regions the industrial development has been the main goal, the lack of conservation regulations at the Eastern European countries has resulted in a rather harmful industrialization, regarding natural resources and environmental quality. In the meanwhile, Europe experienced the severe consequences of the transboundary transfer of air pollution with sensitive ecosystems of the continent being devastated. The European Monitoring and Evaluation Program has published data regarding the transboundary transfer of nitrogen oxides throughout the European continent in the course of over 15 years. The present study utilises these data, focusing on the contribution of the new member-states to the environmental pressure faced by the older member states and vice versa, in order to analyse the situation and discuss the present and future environmental policy concerning air pollution.