The European Commission on Monday approved three proposals aimed at improving the quality of air, water and wastewater in the European Union, proposing tougher regulations to tackle air and water pollution in a bid to achieve zero pollution by 2050.

Eu member states should set interim targets to reduce air pollution by 2030 and zero pollution by 2050, according to the proposal. "The annual limit for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) will be more than halved by 2030, from 25 micrograms per cubic meter to 10 micrograms per cubic meter."

'Air and water pollution harms health, the economy and the environment,' the commission said in a communique. 'Stricter regulations have a clear return on investment, and the EU should take concerted action to better tackle pollution at source.'

In the fight against air pollution, the Commission proposed to amend the EU's Ambient Air Quality Directive to set interim targets for 2030 to ensure zero air pollution by 2050. Specific measures include regularly assessing air quality standards, reducing annual limits for PM2.5, a major air pollutant, strengthening air quality monitoring and information disclosure, and ensuring victims' rights and interests through effective penalties.

To combat water pollution, the committee proposed stricter regulations on urban wastewater treatment and surface and groundwater pollution, including strengthening recycling of resources in urban wastewater, systematic monitoring of microorganisms in wastewater, requiring producers of pollutants such as related pharmaceutical and chemical companies to pay cleanup costs, and continuously updating lists of surface and groundwater pollutants.

The proposals will be considered by the European Parliament and the European Council in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure. Once approved, the proposal will gradually take effect according to a set time target.