This Directive lays out measures aimed at improving air quality for EU Member States. The measures are laid out to ensure the following:
to define and establish objectives for ambient air quality designed to avoid, prevent or reduce harmful effects on human health and the environment as a whole;
to assess the ambient air quality in Member States on the basis of common methods and criteria;
to obtain 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;
to ensure that such information on ambient air quality is made available to the public;
to maintain air quality where it is good and improving it in other cases; and
to promote increased cooperation between the Member States in reducing air pollution.
