The procedure for the adoption of the new EU Directive on air quality in Europe, the EU Commission states they are "content with", lasted two and a half years. The law, which has been finally passed, will be published on the Official Journal in May and will be enforced in 2011, "follows almost totally the proposal that the EU Executive had submitted in September 2005" and "is evidence of the EU’s strong commitment to improving air quality by outlining binding particle-concentration limits". The MEP Stavros Dimas states: "The citizens are worried about atmospheric pollution, which affects the environment and human health; this directive is a response to their fears, because it establishes some high but realistic limits to fight" particle-induced smog. The law brings several earlier regulations into one directive. "Particles explains the EU Commission in a note are considered one of the most harmful pollutants for health along with the larger-size contaminants, such as Pm10, which are already bound to other regulations". Under the directive, the member states shall reduce by 20% the exposure to particles in urban areas by 2020 from the 2010 values.
