Article 1 Subject matter

defining and establishing objectives for ambient air quality designed to avoid, prevent or reduce harmful effects on human health and the environment as a whole;

assessing the ambient air quality in Member States on the basis of common methods and criteria;

obtaining information on ambient air quality in order to help combat air pollution and nuisance and to monitor long-term trends and improvements resulting from national and Community measures;

ensuring that such information on ambient air quality is made available to the public;

maintaining air quality where it is good and improving it in other cases;

promoting increased cooperation between the Member States in reducing air pollution.