Malta is among 11 EU nations that exceeded their air pollution ceilings in 2012, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA).
Nine EU member states – Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovenia and Spain – breached their nitrogen oxide limits mainly because of persistently high emissions from cars and trucks.
The limits on air pollution ceilings were meant to be achieved by 2010.
EEA director Hans Bruyninckx said that despite plans to avert health-damaging smog of the sort that choked Paris this month, air pollution remains a real problem. He called for further emission cuts. Violations of the limits can in theory end with fines, although none have been imposed.