EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/517

(2004/C 78 E/0537)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3302/03

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(10 November 2003)

Subject: Noise abatement plans (Directive 2002/49/EC)

With the aim of assessing and managing environmental noise, Directive 2002/49/EC (1) of the European Parliament and of the Council was adopted on 25 June 2002. By 18 July 2005 it requires the Member States to compile strategic noise maps, using common assessment methods, to record levels of noise nuisance along main roads and main railway lines, around major airports and in conurbations.

In Germany it has already been the case since 1990 that, pursuant to Article 47a of the Federal Pollution Control Act, in areas where noise damages or may be expected to damage the environment, the level of exposure to noise from the relevant sources must be measured and its impact on the environment determined. By law, Länder and communes must draw up noise abatement plans. In Saarland, no commune has so far submitted a noise abatement plan pursuant to Article 47a of the Federal Pollution Control Act. This may be because drawing up such plans costs money and the plans will affect everybody in a commune.

1. What will be done to ensure that the governments of the Member States do not take advantage of the 2005 deadline set by the directive to delay the implementation of domestic law?

2. Will the EU provide financial support for the compilation of noise abatement plans?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 2003)

The Commission was interested to note the Written Question from the Honourable Member concerning the link between Community legislation and national legislation on environmental noise and the possibility of financial support from the Community for plans to reduce noise nuisance.

On the first point, pursuant to Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise (2), which entered into force on 18 July 2002, the competent authorities in the Member States are obliged to draw up strategic noise maps in the vicinity of the major transport infrastructures and in major conurbations, based on common indicators, to inform the public about exposure to noise and its effects, and to implement action plans to reduce noise wherever necessary and to preserve the quality of the noise environment wherever it is good. The Directive has to be transposed into the national legislation of the Member States no later than 18 July 2004, the first noise maps have to be drawn up no later than 30 June 2007, and the first action plans no later than 18 July 2008.

With regard to the link between existing national legislation on noise and Directive 2002/49/EC, the competent authorities in the Member States are free to implement the provisions of the Directive earlier, this possibility being at their entire discretion.

On the second point, there is no specific Community funding to combat environmental noise. However, projects in this field could be given financial support under existing mechanisms, including the financial instrument for the environment (LIFE).

(1) OJ L 189, 18.7.2002, p. 12.

(2) OJ L 189, 18.7.2002.