29.3.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L 85/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 1999/13/EC of 11 March 1999 on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain activities and installations 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 (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189c of the Treaty (3), (1) Whereas the European Community action programme on the environment approved by the Council and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council by resolutions of 22 November 1973 (4), 17 May 1977 (5), 7 February 1983 (¢), 19 October 1987 (7) and 1 February 1993 (8) stresses the importance of the prevention and reduction of air pollution; (2) Whereas in particular the resolution of 19 October 1987 emphasises the importance of Community (1) OJ C 99, 26.3.1997, p. 32. (2) OJ C287,22.9.1997, p. 55. (3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 14 January 1998 (O] C 34, 2.2.1998, p. 75), Council Common Position of 16 June 1998 (O] C 248, 7.8.1998, p. 1) and Decision of the European Parliament of 21 October 1998 (O] C 341, 9.11.1998, p. 70). (4) 0J C 112, 20.12.1973, p. 1. (5) OJ C 139, 13.6.1977, p. 1. (6) OJ C 46, 17.2.1983, p. 1. (7) OJ C 328, 7.12.1987, p. 1. (%) OJ C 138, 1.2.1993, p. 1. action to concentrate, inter alia, on implementation of appropriate standards in order to ensure a high level of public health and environmental protection; (3) Whereas the European Community and its Member States are parties to the Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the control of emissions of volatile organic compounds in order to reduce their transboundary fluxes and the fluxes of the resulting secondary photochemical oxidant products so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects; (4) Whereas pollution due to volatile organic compounds in one Member State often influences the air and water of other Member States; whereas, in accordance with Article 130r of the Treaty, action at Community level is necessary; (5) Whereas, because of their characteristics, the use of organic solvents in certain activities and installations gives rise to emissions of organic compounds into the air which can be harmful for public health and/ or contributes to the local and transboundary formation of photochemical oxidants in the boundary layer of the troposphere which cause damage to natural resources of vital environmental and economic importance and, under certain exposure conditions, has harmful effects on human health; (6) Whereas the high incidence of high tropospheric ozone concentrations in recent years has triggered