S.L. 549.59 Art. 40ACompetent authority to initiate process.

(1) Where any alert threshold, limit value, target value or long-term objective is exceeded due to significant transboundary transport of air pollutants or their precursors from neighbouring EU

Member States, the competent authority shall contact the competent authorities within the concerned Member States in order to initiate the process in Article 25(1) of Directive 2008/50/EC, the aim of which is to cooperate and, where appropriate, draw up joint activities, such as the preparation of joint or coordinated air quality plans pursuant to Article 23 of Directive 2008/50/EC in order to remove such exceedances through the application of appropriate but proportionate measures.

(2) The competent authority shall, if appropriate, pursuant to Article 24 of the Directive approach the competent authorities within the neighbouring Member States in order to prepare and contribute to the implementation of joint short-term action plans covering neighbouring zones in other Member States. The competent authority shall ensure that neighbouring zones in other Member States which have developed short-term action plans receive all appropriate information.

(3) Where the information threshold or alert thresholds are exceeded in zones or agglomerations close to national borders, information shall be provided as soon as possible to the competent authorities in the neighbouring Member States concerned. That information shall also be made available to the public.

(4) In drawing up plans as provided for in sub-regulations (1) and (2) and in informing the public as referred to in sub-regulation (3), the competent authority shall, where appropriate, endeavour to pursue cooperation with third countries, and in particular with candidate countries.