The EU ordered five member countries including Britain, France and Germany to tighten controls on smog-causing car pollution or risk being sent to the top European court.
Heavy smog has enveloped much of Europe this winter prompting emergency measures in several big cities including London, Paris and Berlin.
"The European Commission sends final warnings to Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom for failing to address repeated breaches of air pollution limits for nitrogen dioxide," the European Commission said.
The commission, the executive arm of the 28-country union, said it urged the countries "to take action to ensure good air quality and safeguard public health."
EU countries can be hit with large financial penalties by the commission if they break the union's rules.
The commission said that "persistently high" levels of nitrogen dioxide caused 70,000 premature deaths in Europe in 2013.
This was almost three times the number of deaths by road traffic accidents in the same year, it added.
GMT 09:17 2018 Sunday ,07 January
Suspect in murder of Philippine environmentalist freedGMT 11:48 2017 Friday ,29 December
Bono, former Suu Kyi campaignerGMT 11:01 2017 Thursday ,21 December
Fish sex so loud it could deafen dolphinsGMT 16:10 2017 Thursday ,14 December
Canada boosts protection for endangered whalesGMT 10:31 2017 Tuesday ,12 December
France's nuanced record fighting climate changeGMT 10:45 2017 Saturday ,02 December
Five arrested over elephant killing in Sri LankaGMT 09:24 2017 Sunday ,19 November
Delhi half-marathon to go ahead despite smog, court rulesGMT 09:18 2017 Friday ,06 October
Prince Charles warns 'plastic on the menu' in world's fishMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©