WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3027/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Future Noise Policy (Green Paper)
Date: 1997-10-01
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: EU programme, EU publication, European Commission, machinery, noise pollution, pollution control measures, prevention of pollution, proposal (EU), resolution of parliament, tax relief

16. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 117/131

(98/C 117/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3027/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(1 October 1997)

Subject: Future Noise Policy (Green Paper)

The Economic and Social Committee believes that the Commission(cid:146)s proposal, contained in its green paper on
future  noise  policy  (COM(96)  540  final),  to  restrict  the  establishment  of  limit  values  for  noise  caused  by
machines used in the open air to sectors which are already regulated will cause problems because the existing
measures  were  not  adopted  systematically  or  in  line  with  practically-based  priorities,  but  more  or  less
haphazardly.

Will the Commission therefore adopt a comprehensive programme to reduce noise pollution of this type? Will it
also  provide  further  incentives  (possibly  through  fiscal  measures)  for  the  early  introduction  of  low-noise
machinery?

(98/C 117/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3028/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(1 October 1997)

Subject: Future Noise Policy (Green Paper)

The Economic and Social Committee endorses the priority attached in the Commission(cid:146)s green paper on future
noise policy (COM(96) 540 final) to measures to assess and reduce rail-traffic noise but believes that the noise
reduction measures proposed in the Green Paper can be improved, for example by using low-noise trains.

Will  the  Commission  evaluate  and  avoid  using  variable  rates  for  the  use  of  individual  railway  lines?  The
resulting  additional  charge  would  prompt  a  shift  to  other,  generally  less  environmentally-friendly,  modes  of
transport.

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3023/97, E-3024/97, E-3025/97, E-3026/97, E-3027/97 and E-3028/97
given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(5 November 1997)

The Commission has become highly aware of the various topics mentioned by the Honourable Member.

On the basis of several opinions delivered after publication of the Green Paper on noise and in particular on the
Resolution adopted by Parliament, the Commission is currently putting the final touches to the future activities
concerned in the fight against noise. It is intended that these activities will form part of a consistent, realistic
programme. One of the key aspects of this programme will of course be coordination and consultation of the
various operators involved in the problems arising from noise. The Commission does not plan to give preference
to any particular measure. Balanced utilisation of the various instruments available is planned. The Commission
does not intend to replace the setting of emission standards by economic incentives. In addition the Commission
will also take care to avoid any options which would cause a shift in traffic towards transport modes which might
have a greater impact on the environment.

Finally, the setting of targets is an essential prerequisite for action against noise. The Commission is currently
analysing the various possible options as regards the definition and setting of those targets.