No L 35/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 5. 2.97 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 27 January 1997 establishing a reciprocal exchange of information and data from networks and individual stations measuring ambient air pollution within the Member States (97/101/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular Article 130s (1), thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), : Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189c of the Treaty (%), (1) Whereas the fifth European Community action programme on the environment (*) provides for the collection of baseline data on the environment and an improvement in their compatibility, comparability and transparency; (2) Whereas the objectives and tasks of the European Environment Agency are set out in Council Regula- tion (EEC) No 1210/90 of 7 May 1990 on the estab- lishment of the European Environment Agency and the European Environment Information and Observa- tion Network (%); (3) Whereas it is necessary to establish a procedure for the exchange of information on air quality in order to help combat pollution and nuisance, with a view to improving the quality of life and environment throughout the Community, through monitoring long-term trends and improvements resulting from () OJ No C 281, 7. 10. 1994, p. 9. () OJ No C 110, 2. 5. 1995, P. 3. {*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 16 June 1995 (O] No C 166, 3. 7. 1995, p. 177), Council Common Position of 26 February 1996 (OJ No C 219, 27. 7. 1996, p. 1) and Decision of the European Parliament of 18 September 1996 (O] No C 320, 28. 10. 1996, p. 74). () OJ No C 138, 17.'5. 1993, p. 5. () Of No L 120, 11. 5. 1990, p. 1. national and Community legislation to combat air pollution; (4) Whereas duplication in transferring information should be avoided, in particular as regards information to be transmitted to the European Environment Agency and the Commission; (5) Whereas experience built up as the result of exchanges of information pursuant to Council De- cision 75/441/EEC of 24 June 1975 establishing a common procedure for the exchange of information between the surveillance and monitoring networks based on data relating to atmospheric pollution caused by certain compounds and suspended particulates (%) and by Council Decision 82/459/EEC of 24 June 1982 establishing a reciprocal exchange of informa- tion and data from networks and individual stations measuring air pollution within the Member States () makes it possible to establish a more complete and representative exchange of information by increasing the number of pollutants considered and by including networks and individual stations measuring ambient air pollution; (6) Whereas a distinction should be made between infor- mation that must always be transmitted, in particular relating to Council Directive 96/62/EC  of 27 September 1996 on ambient air quality assessment and management (%) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Directive on air quality’), and information that must be submitted where it is available; () OJ No L 194, 25. 7. 1975, p. 32. Decision repealed by De- cision 82/459/EEC (O] No L 210, 19. 7. 1982, p. 1). ) OJ No L 210, 19. 7. 1982, p. 1. () OJ No L 296, 21. 11. 1996, p. SS.