Transformation of the first daughter directive on air quality in several EU member states and its application in practice

We have found that only very few court cases of this type have occurred in other EU countries, because of differences in the implementation of the first Daughter Directive. One of the most striking differences is that in some countries (the Netherlands, Germany), limit values are understood as absolute limit values, whereas in other countries (Belgium, France, UK), the need to meet a limit value is weighted with other interests when deciding on granting permits. It is clear that, while most countries have exceedances of limit values, and all countries base their policy on the same EU air quality Directives, still large differences exist between member states with respect to the role limit values play in granting permits for new spatial developments