The new European Air Directive approved in Brussels on the one hand sets stricter limits for the main air pollutants and new standards to monitor and improve air quality, and on the other includes a provision, strongly desired by Italian authorities and in particular by the most polluted regions of the Po Valley, namely Lombardy, Emilia Romagna Piedmont and Veneto, which could allow, under certain conditions, to obtain a very extended postponement - up to 10 years - of the 2030 deadline by which to reach the new targets valid for other European countries. With the formal adoption, the Council of the European Union thus closed a negotiation phase that lasted several years and gave hope to European citizens that the fight against air pollution on our continent could make great strides soon. The new directive introduces stricter limits for key air pollutants, bringing European standards closer to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. This confirms Europe's commitment to air quality and public health protection, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and people with respiratory diseases. The new standards will also give local authorities better tools to monitor and improve air quality, making this a historic moment for clean air advocacy in Europe.