Czech Republic gets second EU warning over poor air quality

The Czech Republic has received a second warning from the European Commission about air pollution levels in some cities. The latest warning focuses on continued excess dust emissions in the air in the Ostrava and Ústí regions. The EU rules allow the limits to be exceeded 35 times a year but the number of times the limit has been passed this year is already approaching 100 in part of Ostrava and was passed 116 times at Věrňovice near the Polish border in the far east of the country. The Commission can take the Czech Republic to the European Court of Justice, which can impose sanctions, for breaking the rules. The Ministry of Environment says it is taking steps to tackle the urban pollution in the worst areas. The first warning over air pollution was delivered in 2013.