This case marks the conclusion of nearly a decade of litigation over France’s failure to comply with EU Air Quality Directive 2008/50/EC, which sets binding limit values for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter (PM10).

The applicants, Les Amis de la Terre, France Nature Environnement, and other NGOs initiated the case in 2017 after years of systemic exceedances in major French cities.

Between 2017 and 2023, the Council of State repeatedly found France in breach of its EU obligations and issued a series of escalating astreintes (financial penalties), reaching €10 million per semester. The Court noted that the government often preferred to pay penalties rather than adopt politically sensitive measures to curb air pollution.

However, in April 2025, the Court considered that France had implemented credible and sufficient measures to achieve compliance, most notably through the mandatory Low Emission Zones (Zones à faibles émissions ZFE) introduced by the Climate and Resilience Law (2021) and expanded in 2024. 

The Court therefore terminated the astreinte and declared its 2017 injunction fully executed.

Friends of the Earth and Others v. France

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Friends of the Earth and Others v. France - decision

Filed

France

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

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Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

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Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

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Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

Air pollution involves harmful contaminants in the air, affecting both indoor and outdoor environments. It can lead to health issues like respiratory diseases and heart problems, and climate impacts such as global warming. Pollutants can damage plants, trees, habitats, and water bodies like rivers and lakes.

Work that is productive and delivers a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for all, better prospects for personal development and social integration, freedom for people to express their concerns, organize and participate in the decisions that affect their lives and equality of opportunity.

woman and genders outside of the gender binary

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Friends of the Earth and Others v. France - decision

Policy instrument

Risk

Impacted group

Just transition

Finance