Bulgaria faces scrutiny over air quality data manipulation; EU tightens standards to combat pollution’s health risks.
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Bulgarian authorities deny suspicions regarding improper air pollution measurements, while environmental experts state that Lithuania strictly adheres to EU air quality requirements. Concerns have been raised about Bulgaria, with reports alleging that the country is concealing air pollution data in its major cities by relocating monitoring stations to less polluted areas. Officials have previously claimed these moves were due to infrastructure projects, but some suggest they were made to avoid fines from the European Commission. Despite legal challenges by citizens in Sofia and Plovdiv regarding poor air quality, no effective measures have been implemented. Air pollution is linked to over 10,000 premature deaths in Bulgaria annually due to fine particulate matter. In contrast, Lithuania maintains a comprehensive air quality monitoring network across different zones, meeting EU standards. The European Union is tightening air quality standards, with a new directive aiming for near-zero pollution by 2050, as current EU limits are less stringent than World Health Organization recommendations.
