The National Emission Ceilings Directive is one of the instruments to reduce emissions in the European Union. It is directed against the acidification and eutrophication of vulnarable ecosystems in Europe and aims to reduce the affected area in Europe by 30% in 2010 when compared with the situation in 1990. The ceilings therefore include SO2, NOx, VOC and NH3.
The NEC Directive regulates the ceilings in the EU15 for the year 2010 and details the respective obligations of the Member States. Among these are the development of plans in which the allocation of the emissions reductions to the different economical sectors in a country are given and the various reporting obligations on the actual emissions and the progress with the reductions in respect of the relevant timeframe. The ceiling values are summarised in the table.
National Emission Ceilings for SO2, NOx, VOC and NH3 to be attained in 2010
| Country | SO2kilotonnes | NOxkilotonnes | VOC kilotonnes | NH3kilotonnes |
| Austria | 39 | 103 | 159 | 66 |
| Belgium | 99 | 176 | 139 | 74 |
| Denmark | 55 | 127 | 85 | 69 |
| Finland | 110 | 170 | 130 | 31 |
| France | 375 | 810 | 1050 | 780 |
| Germany | 520 | 1051 | 995 | 550 |
| Greece | 523 | 344 | 261 | 73 |
| Ireland | 42 | 65 | 55 | 116 |
| Italy | 475 | 990 | 1159 | 419 |
| Luxemburg | 4 | 11 | 9 | 7 |
| Netherlands | 50 | 260 | 185 | 128 |
| Portugal | 160 | 250 | 180 | 90 |
| Spain | 746 | 847 | 662 | 353 |
| Sweden | 67 | 148 | 241 | 57 |
| UK | 585 | 1167 | 1200 | 297 |
| EU15 | 3850 | 6519 | 6510 | 3110 |
A revision of the NEC Directive is presently (2008) being negotiated and is meant to establish NEC values for the year 2020; it should be in force from 2011.