17.7.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L1791 Il (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 13 June 2003 on the accession of the European Community, to the Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long- Range Transboundary Air Pollution to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-Level Ozone (2003/507 [EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, (4)  Directive 2001/81/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2001 on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants (3) sets bind- ing national emission ceilings, to be met by 2010 at the latest,which are equal to or more ambitious than those required by the Gothenburg Protocol for each Member State. Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, and in particular Article 175 paragraph 1, in conjunc- tion with Article 300 paragraph 2, first sentence of the first subparagraph and paragraph 3, first subparagraph thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (%), (5)  Directive 2001/80/EC of the European Parliament and Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (?), of the Council of 23 October 2001 on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large Whereas: combustion plants (4) sets new limit values for emissions from this sector, which are consistent with those set under the Gothenburg Protocol. (1)  Acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone cause unacceptable damage to the environment and human health within the Community. (6)  The Community, in consequence, should accede to the Gothenburg Protocol, (20 On 30 November 1999 the Executive Body to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: adopted the Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophica- tion and Ground-level Ozone (Gothenburg Protocol); the Gothenburg Protocol sets maximum permitted levels Atticle 1 of emissions (emission ceilings) for each national Party for the four main precursor pollutants responsible for acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone: The accession of the Community to the Protocol to the 1979 Iphur dioxyde, oxides of nit . volatil : Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution to f:lélflpléfm(i;));}l;de alfr)l)l(qlmeliia(') thllelséocgeeiﬁng\;oaiel teo (}))regz;l:lect Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone by 2010. ’ is hereby approved on behalf of the Community. (3)  Implementation of the Gothenburg Protocol will con- The text of the Protocol is contained in the Annex to this tribute to achieving Community goals for protection of Decision. the environment and human health. (1) O] C151E, 25.6.2002, p. 74. () OJL 309,27.11.2001, p. 22. (3 Opinion of 4 July 2002 (notyet published in the Official Journal). (*) OJL 309,27.11.2001, p. 1.