Progress in improving Europe’s air quality, but further action needed to address 2030 limits, ground-level ozone

Most air quality monitoring stations in Europe achieve current EU legal standards for key air pollutants. However, the levels of key pollutants — like particulate matter, benzo(a)pyrene and especially ground-level ozone — remain a significant problem, according to the latest air quality assessments published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Latest data collected and analysed for 2024 and 2025 shows EU standards were mostly met in most regions across Europe for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). However, in up to 20% of monitoring stations, air pollution is still above current EU air quality standards, especially for smaller particulate matter with a diameter of 10 microns (µm) or less (PM10), ground level ozone (O3) and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). 

The EEA Air Quality status report 2026 presents the latest official reported data on levels of key air pollutants in Europe. It compares these concentrations against current and 2030 EU air quality standards and the World Health Organisation (WHO) health-based air quality guideline levels.  

The new air quality standards applicable from 2030 will require Member States to maintain and increase measures to address air pollution. Across the majority of Europe air pollution levels also remain above the stricter WHO guideline levels set to protect human health.