Air pollution and Belgium's tough stance on immigration are in the headlines
ADVERTISEMENTThe European Commission is promising to get tough on air quality and may penalise members that breach EU rules on pollutants .
After a meeting with the environment ministers of nine countries which face legal action because of air quality problems, EU Environment Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella said it is time to act.
Targets introduced for 2005 and 2010 are still being exceeded in 23 of 28 EU countries.
The Commission can take countries to Europe’s top court if they breach EU law. Poland and Bulgaria have already faced legal action over air quality issues.
Politicians in Belgium are to vote on legislation allowing police to search private homes for illegal immigrants.
The country’s Parliamentary Committee on the Interior is considering a bill that would allow raids and arrests of undocumented migrants from private addresses.
The bill has been heavily criticised by NGOs and rejected by a committee of judges who reviewed the proposal.
The vote is due on Wednesday.